Breaking the Code (1997)

Produced for the BBC and Masterpiece Theatre, this movie tells the life story of mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing (Derek Jacobi), the inventor of the Turing Machine, a computer used to solve the German Enigma code during World War II. Many believe he was instrumental in the Allied victory. The title refers to both the solution of the Enigma code and Turing's open admission of his homosexuality, which at the time violated the codes of polite society and British law. "Breaking the Code" begins in 1952 with the robbery of some of Turing's few possessions. Then the movie travels backwards and forwards through time, providing glimpses of Turing's past and present, including his school days, his wartime efforts, and his post-war experiences. Discussions of his scientific work alternate with scenes of his personal life, including his boyhood love, the unwanted attentions of his female assistant, and his later relationships with younger men, drawing connections between his work and his private life. Because he was unfairly exposed and disgraced by the British secret service as a homosexual, he was crucified for it in the media, and not recognized as a great hero for virtually winning WWII. Alan Turing died in 1954. The screenplay was written by Hugh Whitemore, based on his play derived from Andrew Hodges' book. Herbert Wise directed.

Sugar (2004)

Cliff (Andre Noble) has just turned 18. His 12 year-old sister Cookie (Haylee Wanstall) gives him some vodka, marijuana, and and an order to "go find sex", then sends him to Toronto's gay red light district in the "Gay Village". Emerging from the subway and riding his new skateboard, he scoots off to the hustling district and catches the eye of Butch (Brendan Fehr), a tough druggie hustler. Virgin Cliff decides almost immediately that he wants a relationship with Butch and even brings him home after the first night's encounter. Though the feeling seems mutual, Butch eventually humiliates Cliff in front of one of his clients. The relationship has its ups and downs, but we get to see Butch and Cliff operate in the hustler world. Butch introduces him to a world of sex, drugs, prostitution and life on the streets. Romance blossoms between the two until drugs begin to pull them apart. Cliff wants love, not hustling, and Butch has some ambivalence toward Cliff. The plot moves toward an inevitable result, followed by a twist at the end that shows where Cliff really is.

"Sugar" is based on several short stories by legendary writer and artist Bruce LeBruce, who commented: "The central characters of Sugar, Butch, Cliff, and Cookie, remained pretty faithful to the characters in my stories. I wrote the stories in the eighties, so certain details about the hustler scene were updated, such as the advent of crack...The movie really had a nice punk ethos, I thought. The movie also captured the Toronto hustler milieu, which is very specific." Dark and ugly at times, but realistic and challenging, "Sugar" is about coming out and coming of age. The two leads have good chemistry and the film is provocative and funny. It is worth mentioning that actor Andre Noble ("Twist", "Prom Queen") died in 2004 from eating a poisonous plant while on a camping trip. Todd Klinck wrote the screenplay from LaBruce's short stories, and John Palmer directed.