52 Films by Women Vol 5. 29. SECOND DATE SEX (Director: Rachel Hirons)
I f the spread of Covid-19 had not forced a three-month lockdown, Rachel Hirons’ entertaining British romantic comedy, Second Date Sex , would have had a belated UK cinema release in April. It had one UK cinema screening, on 13 February for Galentine’s Day, ‘traditionally’ a day to celebrate female friendship. The non-Greetings Card day originated the American situation comedy, Parks and Recreation , in an episode first broadcast in 2010. Hirons’ film is self-explanatory: Ryan (George Mackay, with the wisp of a goatee beard) and Laura (Alexandra Roach) are on a second date, though for the most part they don’t leave Ryan’s house, and they have sex in that very British way, with much fumbling and no montage. Well, there is a montage, but that comes later. The film bears the date 2018 and since then Mackay has become a big deal, running for King and country in Sam Mendes’ award-winning World War One single-take marvel, 1917 . Roach is equally accomplished, having played the young ...