THE DRESSER

The Dresser is a 1983 historical drama directed by journeyman filmmaker Peter Yates (who was behind movies from a wide variety of genres, from the Steve McQueen action thriller Bullitt in ’68, to the sports coming-of-age drama Breaking Away in ’79), and adapted from the play of the same name by Ronald Harwood.
It follows the head of a Shakespearean acting company, referred to only as “Sir” (Albert Finney), and the loyal dresser that has been by his side for over a decade, Norman (Tom Courtenay).
As England plunges into WWII, this troop travels from town to town trying to lift the nation’s spirits, led with an iron fist by the often tyrannical and uncompromising Sir. However, as it becomes increasingly clear that Sir is losing his mental facilities, the rest of the actors begin to question if he is still fit to keep performing.
There is an inherent queerness to the world that The Dresser is set in, but in addition, the character of Norman, even though never explicitly referred to as gay, is played with all the mannerisms and obvious signals of a theater queen. Norman has no personal life outside being Sir’s right hand, and there is a combination of reverent adoration, submission, and obsession in how he behaves with him. The two form more of a marriage than Sir has with his own wife, and by the time their time together comes to an end, Norman has lost more than an employer; he’s lost a life partner. Some of these traits may feel a little obvious and overdone looking back, but Courtenay embeds it all with an honesty that feels authentic.
(Jorge Molina, queerty)