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The Hours and Times (Christopher Much) UK

**The Hours and Times** is a 1991 drama film written and directed by Christopher Münch. It offers a fictionalized depiction of a 1963 Barcelona holiday shared by John Lennon of The Beatles and his manager Brian Epstein [2][3]. The story explores the nuanced, ambiguous dynamics of their relationship amid the era's legal and social constraints on homosexuality in the UK [1].

## Plot Overview
David Angus portrays the suave, closeted Epstein, while Ian Hart plays the provocative Lennon in his breakout role. Their weekend involves conversations about personal desires, professional ambitions, and tense moments of unfulfilled attraction, including a visit to a gay bar and reflections on Epstein's past traumas [2][4]. The black-and-white film emphasizes emotional intimacy over sensationalism, culminating in a poignant promise for a future reunion [1].

## Production and Release
Münch crafted the script as a low-budget "DIY" project in 1988, shooting primarily in Barcelona's Avenida Palace Hotel over four days, with additional London scenes. It premiered at festivals like Toronto, Berlin, Sundance, and New Directors/New York, releasing in the US in 1992 (Canada 1991) [2][7]. Shot in high-contrast black-and-white, it captures a sense of historical isolation [7].

## Critical Reception
Critics praise its restraint in handling queer desire and celebrity speculation, centering Epstein's perspective to highlight mid-20th-century gay experiences [1][5]. As a queer cinema milestone, it screened at events like Frameline and resonates with themes of unspoken longing relevant to LGBTQ+ film history [3].

Citations:
[1] The Hours and Times (1991): Almost a Love Affair https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2022/05/04/almost-a-love-affair/
[2] The Hours and Times https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hours_and_Times
[3] The Hours and Times https://www.frameline.org/films/frameline16/the-hours-and-times
[4] The Hours and Times (1991) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104448/
[5] The Hours and Times https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_hours_and_times
[6] The Hours and Times (1991) https://www.imdb.com/es/title/tt0104448/
[7] The Hours And Times http://www.cultprojections.com/essentialviewing/the-hours-and-times
[8] Hours and Times, The: Christopher Munch's Audacious Film ... https://emanuellevy.com/review/hours-and-times-the-7/
[9] El buscavidas (1991) https://mubi.com/es/us/films/the-hours-and-times