Jim

London, 1982. 41-year-old Father Jim Fitzsimmons waits nervously in the dark across the street from a line of "rent boys" that West London was known for at the time. Simon, a teenager among them, stands out. They make an arrangement and leave together.At his flat, Jim and Simon share a drink, an awkward dance but after Jim, half-drunk, kisses Simon, events take a turn. That night will change the course of both their lives forever.The film's main character takes inspiration from a real figure from this time, priest Bill Kirkpatrick. Often referred to as "The Diana of Earl's Court", Father Kirkpatrick was one of the most iconic and extraordinary figures within the Church of England, during the peak of both the AIDS crisis and the exploitation of young male sex workers in Earls Court during the 1980s.Bill had an ongoing relationship with a former male sex worker during the 1980s. Separately, news reports of the death of a teenage sex worker at the hands of a pedophile gang compelled Bill to devote his life to protecting and advocating for boys and young men who risked suffering the same fate.The character of 'Jim' isn't a carbon copy of Bill Kirkpatrick, and the events in the film are largely fictional. But this project serves as a testament to this important chapter of London's queer history and Bill's impact on the community. We also want to represent the story of so many young men in West London during the 80s, and bring greater attention to the difficulties and oppression they suffered.