Pet Shop Boys 'Loneliness' by Alasdair McLellan
David Knight - 22nd Feb 2024
Alasdair McLellan revisits Sheffield in the early 90s for his video for the Pet Shop Boys' Loneliness - from the duo's forthcoming album Nonetheless - a coming of age story set among a group of young friends and lovers.
It's something to behold. McLellan brings the unmistakeable tenor of his fashion photography into the space of classic British narrative drama. He asks the viewer to buy into a different way of absorbing a story and characters we might expect from the likes of Shane Meadows - or from an earlier era, the British new wave of the 60s - and does so with complete conviction.
None of the bright blue skies for which he's renowned here, but McLellan presents all the other beauty that South Yorkshire has to offer - with the help of a team including DoP Lex Kembery, casting director Hannah Ward Ashby at Lane Casting, editor Alexandros Pissourios and colourist Jamie Noble at Studio RM.
It works because at its core, it's a compelling story of a young man carving his way in the face of the societal norms of his class, culture and the times. He is a closeted queer boy in a straight world, engaged in a double existence. It leads him into unsettling level of deception, of an adoring girlfriend and possibly himself, but McLellan does not shy away from the excitement of his sexual encounters.
As a video for this lovely new Pet Shop Boys track - and the legendary duo make a surprising appearance towards the end of the film - the overall effect is poignant, nostalgic and romantic. But it may draw out a whole variety of emotions from anyone watching it, and although it may not be everyone's cup of (Yorkshire) tea, that makes it a very good thing indeed.
Featured sponsors
David Knight - 22nd Feb 2024
Tags
Popular content
Feedback
Problem with this page? Let us know
Credits
Featured here in the credits?
Production/Creative
- Director
- Alasdair McLellan
- Producer
- Cara Gillies
- Production Company
- Partner Films
- Executive Producer
- Kimberly Arms
Camera
- Director of Photography
- Lex Kembery
- Film Lab
- CD
- 2nd Assistant
- Simon Mackinlay
- 3rd Assistant
- Jessica Pearson
Wardrobe
- Stylist
- Alice Goddard
- Hair
- Laurence Walker
- Make-up
- Phoebe Taylor
- Make-up (Artist)
- Jackie Tyson
Casting
- Casting director
- Hannah Ashby Ward
- Casting
- LC
- Cast:
- Brennan Aldred
- Will Woodward
- Connor Newall
- Elikem Agbesi
- Giselle Norman
- James Bayes
- Kyrae Patterson
- Mimi Morley Iszatt
- Paddy Byfield
- Pet Shop Boys
- Rashad Serhan
- Sohaib Akram
- Stella Jones
- Xavier Thomas
Editorial
- Editor
- Alexandros Pissourios
Grading
- Colourist
- Jamie Noble
- Colour grade company
- SR
VFX
- Post Producer
- Tom Katter
Agent
- Director's Representation
- Art Partner
Commission
- Commissioner
- Imran Malik
- Talent Management
- Angela Becker, Charlie Coletta
Misc
- Set design
- Phoebe Shakespeare
- Set design
- Phoebe Williams-Ellis
Other credits
Intimacy Coordinator
Haley Muraleedharan
David Knight - 22nd Feb 2024