This poignant Merchant-Ivory film is a story of homosexuality in pre-war England, based on the semi-autobiographical novel by E M Forster, not published until after the author's death because of its controversial nature. It has excellent, sustained portrayals by James Wilby and Hugh Grant, whose unconsummated university affair takes them ultimately in very different directions. Director James Ivory lets it run on for a bit too long, but the film is sumptuously well set in period and has some distinguished players acting to their strengths in supporting roles, if for once Ben Kingsley seems all at sea as an American quack psychiatrist trying to rid our hero of his 'affliction'. The script is carefully, literately composed, although you may giggle at the odd jarring line of dialogue, such as: 'Since I was here, I went wrong with the gatekeeper.' You might just spot Helena Bonham Carter as a girl at a cricket match.

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