A charismatic man travels from the East to heal and to spread love: this Christ-like variation set as a secular gay love story is appealing. The Romanian gentleman is like a savior of sorts who cures the dying lambs -- both the animals and John Saxby. The love scenes are among the best I've seen in a gay film. Also, the story, though possible, is less than plausible, particularly because the Romanian happens to be the only applicant for the temporary job on the Saxby farm, making the union of the two men more miraculous than likely. This mystical overtone might explain why the Romanian's saliva can somehow heal John's stigmata wound.These factors are why I enjoyed the film. However, the director Simon Lee, who admits to not thinking about Brexit at all when making the film, now uses the issue to make anti-Brexit statements -- as if Brexit would have barred the Romanian from entering the country at all, which is not what Brexit is really about. With or without Brexit, the chance encounter of these two gentlemen would have been just as possible and/or improbable. The movie is at its weakest in the scene at the pub when Saxby just sits there and lets the pub owners give him and his friend dagger eyes. It is so unconvincing that I wonder if there is more to it than what the final cut provides. Take a look at the deleted scenes: one in which Saxby stops at some park to cruise. A man he pursues wears the identical jacket as the man in the pub who splashes beer on Saxby's boyfriend, and he does so after Saxby whispers something in the man's ear before going off to the toilet to indulge in his old anonymous sex habit. Could the man in the pub be staring wickedly because he might be jealous? Could the woman be looking so nasty because she is just sick of Saxby coming to the pub and getting so drunk that they have to pour him into a cab on a regular basis? Who knows how much puke she might have had to clean up on previous evenings during his visits?Simon Lee gets defensive when people assume that the farm community in Yorkshire is homophobic. Homophobia is not an issue at all, according to him. But the idea of the pub owners being so xenophobic that they cannot stand the thought of a handsome, well-behaved, paying Romanian customer on the premises -- and accompanied by a regular local customer -- seems much more far fetched and patronizing.These issues get in the way of my enjoyment of what I believe Simon Lee intended as a love story about two lonely misfits. But he and Josh O'Connor seem intent on giving it an anti-Brexit spin that ultimately cheapens the film's impact. They should both shut up and just let the movie play!

Mesmerized by the love and tenderness in it; and the transformation of a backwards country boy into a loving and caring man through his interaction with a migrant farm hand.

Finally a movie with a gay storyline that is modern, realistic and a delight to watch!

Down on the farm ... No, seriously. Down on the farm is how this film really opens.Finally! A romantic film for gays without the obscene gratuitous tragedy still seen in LGBT cinema ... in this day and age!This is a great film with two main characters supported by a few well known actors, such as Gemma Jones (Nan), aka Madame Pomfrey, from the Harry Potter series. Whutcanisay? I'm a Potter fan and Madame Pomfrey was one of the memorable characters not often seen. Go figure. A then there's Ian Hart (Martin), aka Professor Quirrell from...yup, Harry Potter! Yessss! Both of these actors have a list of marvelous theatrical accomplishments as long as my arm, but the Potter characters are the most memorable for me. It took me a few minutes to place Ian Hart because he so completely immersed himself in the character of the father in this film. The story cleverly depicts, and often with frustrating realism, how a man comes to to accept if not fully understand his sexuality. The angst and anger is often visceral and provocative; however, thank the gods, the film doesn't dwell too much on these emotional liabilities but moves on to a very unexpected romance with a Romanian man hired for "just a week" to help out on the farm.The director deftly allows Johnny, played by uber-hottie Josh O'Connor (ahhh, those hot Summers in Corfu!), to evolve both emotionally and to a lesser degree physically as he becomes exposed, and later involved with the good looking Romanian hired hand, Gheorghe, played by gorgeous Alec Secareanu. Their relationship, such as it is, develops, but barely. A few angry physical entanglements and a few other physical entanglements ... oh yeah, THOSE kinds of entanglements ... later and they become a couple. Sort of.Without revealing any spoilers, the film ends without tragedy. Drama, yes a fair bit. Sexual tension? Oh good gravy, you betcha!This is easily one of the best love stories -- gay or straight -- I've seen in a long while. It's a film in which the subtext accurately depicts how our community of LGBT individuals more often than not respond to love, kindness and deep affection.These characters are not presented as victims of circumstance but rather heroes in how they grow and develop into strong, loving gay men who can lead rich and fulfilling lives together -- down on the farm. (Hey, I was compelled.)And that, boys and girls, makes for jolly damn good cinema. Period.