The Hours and Times

Just before The Beatles’ claim to fame, John Lennon and manager Brian Epstein escaped to Barcelona for a relaxing weekend. As their friendship grows, tension rises. Epstein begins to fall for Lennon, who already has eyes for their flight attendant. The two discuss their hopeless situation and navigate homosexuality in 1960s Europe under the pressure of the world's opinions and heterosexual distractions.

The fictionalized retelling of Lennon and Epstein’s 1963 vacation was originally not intended for distribution; rather, director Christopher Münch viewed it as a creative exercise. The low-budget film ultimately received worldwide praise. Sundance Film Festival (1992) awarded the film the Special Jury Recognition, and jury member David Ansen recalled the film, stating, “we all thought it was the best movie there, but because of its length it wasn't eligible to receive the best-film prize. We were tempted to break the rules but settled for giving it a special jury prize. Such is the fate of fifty-five-minute movies.” (City Secrets Movies: The Ultimate Insider's Guide to Cinema's Hidden Gems, 2009)