The Comedian

British realism gets a European polish in this well-intentioned but somewhat unsatisfying debut feature from Tom Shkolnik. Filmed on location in London and set in the hipster hang-outs of the trendy east, it captures the city's night-time glow with a cool, almost neon palette, but most viewers will likely be turned off by its experimental style and deliberately unsympathetic characters. The titular comedian is Ed (Edward Hogg), a failed stand-up whose routine we only ever see once in a scene that suggests he will never break into the mainstream. On the night bus home he meets Nathan (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) and the pair begin an affair, but Ed finds it hard to commit to the relationship as he wrestles with questions about his lifestyle, his past and his future. The ensemble performances are excellent, especially in a series of long, clearly improvised scenes that have the electric feel of documentary footage. Sadly, though, there's not enough of a story to sustain The Comedian through its frequent lulls, but its lush cinematic style suggests Shkolnik is one to watch.