The director of "Downton Abbey" discusses the gay scenario of the film

Michael Engler, the director of the new version Downton Abbey film, weighed on the important gay history of the project.

Of course, there will be major disrupters from that time, so if you have not seen the movie yet, you may want to step aside.

If you remember, at the end of the six seasons of the original campaign Downton Abbey series, most characters have been blessed enough to achieve a satisfying ending. However, fans have always been interested in Thomas Barrow, the butler played by Rob James-Collier. Thomas had fugitive and clandestine relationships with other men, and at one point in the series he tried to change his sexual inclinations by following a homosexual conversion therapy. But, fans being allowed to penetrate once again into the British world of the early 20th century, Thomas ends up having a happy romantic ending like everyone else.

For some, it's easy to romanticize the past as a simpler and simpler way of life, and Thomas's love story is one of the ways that Engler says the film opposes type of hypothesis.

"Just that kind of reminder, in a few places here and there, that it's not as rosy and easy for everyone," Engler told BuzzFeed News. "You know, there are people who are not included, and there are parts of this world … who are tough enough, who do not forgive and who are not generous." . "

At the beginning of the film, Buckingham Palace sent a message that King George V (Simon Jones) and Queen Mary (Geraldine James) would stay in Downton for one night. As expected, the establishment must be in excellent condition for the arrival of the royal family and all the inhabitants of the area do their best to make everything perfect.

Before the visit, some members of the royal entourage arrive and do not waste time to push Downton's staff to the side, knowing that they know what is best in King's care. and the queen. Thomas, the butler, strives a little to collect the house and Lady Mary Talbot (Michelle Dockery) asks him to retire so that Mr. Carson (Jim Carter), longtime butler of Downton, can resume his duties . until the stay of the king and the queen is over.

Thomas feels depressed, but it creates an adventure when he meets Richard Ellis, played by actor Max Brown, who is part of the royal entourage.

In a scene later in the film, Thomas is supposed to meet Richard in a bar. Richard does not show up, but Thomas's attention is quickly captured by another man who makes eyes with him. The man convinces Thomas to leave the bar and join him at another place, where we are introduced to a crowd of strange men in what appears to be an old warehouse, dancing and kissing and talking to each other. Thomas is delighted to be with them.

Engler told BuzzFeed News that "as difficult as things are for LGBTQ people," this scene served as a "reminder that there were always places and places in the world where people could find in a way that was not unhealthy ". purely sexual. "It was" a kind of connection, "he added.

"It was like looking for a group of like-minded people, dropping their hair and dancing together, and having a good time without worrying about it," Engler said.

The scene changes when the authorities burst into the warehouse, handcuff men and drive them to jail. Unbeknownst to Thomas, Richard observes everything that is going on and ultimately uses his influence as a member of the royal entourage to bail out the butler. As they head for Richard's car, he tells Thomas that he should be more "circumspect" in the future. The two spend the rest of the night together walking around and talking about their lives as gay men.

At the end of the film, when the King and Queen have to leave, Thomas and Richard are left to their own devices and share a special moment. Richard steals a kiss from Thomas on the mouth and gives him a locket to remember him, and they promise to keep in touch. The end is sweet and promising, but according to Engler, it has almost finished in a completely different way.

"Well, in the end, Thomas called Ellis and his wife answered the phone," Engler said. "And again, you know, it's a very realistic thing and it does not necessarily compromise anything about them."

Engler stated that it was more true at the time because if anyone was serving this guy, it would likely be that he tries to "integrate as much as possible" ".

The scene was cut off, said Engler, because it looked more like a defeat when their intention was to give Thomas "a bit of hope and optimism, even if it was a bit mixed".