Filmed during the closing days of the club, The Backstreet is an intimate exploration of four decades of desire, community, love and loss through the eyes of regulars at this iconic London gay leather club.
‘Sweat, moans, the haze of smoke and the rugged smell of leather. This is The Backstreet – London's secret haven for leathermen. After 37 years in existence, the club stands on the brink of permanent closure. Facing the demolition of their erotic haven, regulars and staff recount their memories – the sweaty darkroom encounters, a master-slave couple’s first kiss, a spiritual encounter during a BDSM session, and the terror and loss of the HIV pandemic. Meanwhile, the owner, the manager and a curator from the Museum of London go through boxes, finding erotic birthday cake designs, leather jockstraps and homophobic tabloid cuttings. As the space awaits demolition, what will The Backstreet’s legacy be?’
For 37 years, The Backstreet was a legendary part of the gay bar and leather scene, becoming the longest-running and strictest men-only leather bar in London.
Romain Beck, The Backstreet, 2024, 29 mins
Certification: Unclassified 18+
The Backstreet will be screened in the Events Studio on a continuous loop.
This film is screened as part of the public programme for Prem Sahib, Documents of a recent past.
Romain has over a decade’s worth of experience editing documentary projects. Recently, he edited the upcoming feature Mother Vera which won the Creativity Media First Look Award at Locarno Festival in 2023 and premiered at Vision du Reel 2024.
His work has been recognised at IDFA 2022, Jihlava International Documentary Festival 2018, Hot Docs and South by South West film Festival 2017. The Backstreet is his directorial debut.
This film features sexually explicit and erotic content.
Romain Beck, The Backstreet, 2024. Film stills. Images courtesy of the director
