Christopher and His Kind

Christopher and His Kind is an evocative 2011 film adaptation of the autobiographical novel of the same name by noted author Christopher Isherwood. Starring British actor Matt Smith, known for his role in Doctor Who, as the charismatic Christopher Isherwood and also featuring talents like Imogen Poots and Lindsay Duncan, the film is a compelling recounting of Isherwood's years in 1930s Berlin.

The film opens up with Isherwood's departure from his conservative and staid life in England. His mother, Kathleen Isherwood, played by Lindsay Duncan, is symbolizing this life. He is leaving behind. However, he also leaves his best friend WH Auden, also a well-known poet, played by Pip Carter, which is noteworthy as it plays into the driving motivations pushing Isherwood towards his journey in Berlin.

Not just a pleasure-seeking trip, Isherwood's stay in Berlin was principally a political and sexual self-discovery mission, and Smith brilliantly portrays his journey in the moral, social, and political melting pot that Berlin was in the early 1930s. The film captures the exciting cultural landscape of the period, from the sparkling nightlife and avant-garde art scene to the looming threat of Nazism.

Abandoning the conservative confines of England, Isherwood is drawn to Berlin's more liberal attitudes towards homosexuality. There he begins an intense relationship with Caspar, played by August Diehl. However, caught in a turbulent time in history, their relationship faces the scrutiny of the increasing Nazi presence. Simultaneously, Isherwood builds a strong friendship with Jean Ross, an actress and singer played by Imogen Poots, who later serves as an inspiration for the character Sally Bowles in his work “The Berlin Stories,” which later spawns the hit musical "Cabaret."

However, Isherwood's life in Berlin is not just about his relationships. The film also delves into his interactions and observations of the evolving socio-political landscape of the time. Margot-Ruby Franke, played by Issy Van Randwyck, serves as an ideal exemplification of local Berliners' reactions to the rise of Nazism and how it affected their daily lives.

Directed by Geoffrey Sax (known for White Noise and Tipping the Velvet), the film/his directorial vision brings to the screen a vibrant recreation of Isherwood’s Berlin, with its messy and intoxicating freedom. It’s a city that seemed to hum with creative and sexual energy, punctuated by moments of unrest and violence as the Nazi party started to gain power. A strong juxtaposition is apparent between the reckless hedonism of Berlin's nightlife and the grim reality of the day. This duality is astutely captured in the telling of Isherwood's escape from the humdrum of his earlier life and his use of escapism as a tool to deal with the constant menace of an approaching war.

The screenplay by Kevin Elyot gives each character their respect and importance in Isherwood's life, and no one is ever shown as just a sideline. It sketchers the 1930s Berlin in holistic light, addressing all its different aspects like sexuality, politics, and artistry. Christopher and His Kind peculiarly stand out by treating its topics with frankness and empathy, not turning away from the sexuality integral to Isherwood's experience but not sensationalizing or exploiting it either.

The movie does not limit itself to Isherwood's days in Berlin but spans the pre-war and post-war period, portraying the consequential events in his life and how these shape him both as a person and a writer. The narrative and performances highlight his personal growth in the backdrop of a world changing rapidly and unpredictably.

In conclusion, Christopher and His Kind is a biographical drama with an evocative representation of a young man's journey toward self-acceptance and a brilliantly showcased portrait of the 1930s Berlin, a city bouncing on the brink of history. It is a must-watch for those who appreciate cinema that combines elements of history, sexuality, self-discovery, and social commentary. It's a film as complex and captivating as the man at its center, and the era it encapsulates. Rich with historical significance and underlined by excellent performances, it is a vivid illustration of one of the most influential writers’ life and times in the 20th century.