In from the Side is a 2022 romantic drama directed by Matt Carter, written by himself and Adam Silver.
Mark (Alexander Lincoln) is a new addition to the B team of a gay men's rugby club in London. Despite already being in a relationship, he begins an ill-advised affair with Warren (Alexander King), the star player of their club's A team who is also currently in a relationship of his own. With their risky arrangement threatening not just their respective personal lives but also the financial well-being of the club, the secret becomes increasingly difficult to maintain.
In from the Side contains examples of the following tropes:
- Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder: Part of what leads Mark to starting an affair with Warren is his boyfriend's frequent business trips, giving him an out to see Warren as frequently as he does. Subverted in that Mark states they technically are in an open relationship, but with the specific rule that Mark can't sleep with someone more than once... which he quickly ignores.
- The Alcoholic / Descent into Addiction: Henry is shown to be a bit of a lightweight and develops a drinking problem, partially because of his unrequited feelings for Mark.
- Business Trip Adultery: Inverted with Mark and Richard, as the latter is the one leaving on business trips while Mark has an affair.
- Cast Full of Gay: The vast majority of the characters in this film are queer men, which is a given because of its setting. It also conveniently allows them to sidestep the expected homophobia of the athletic world.
- Chekhov's Gun: The picture Mark takes of Warren in his bed is eventually found by his boyfriend Richard, which prompts him to kick Mark out of their flat.
- Did Not Get The Guy: Warren and Henry towards Mark by the end, who is implied to have a new love interest in mind for himself.
- Disposable Fiancé: Mark's boyfriend, Richard, doesn't have much screen time, generally shown to be an unlikable and distant partner who gets in the way of his affair with Warren. They amicably break up at the end.
- Good Adultery, Bad Adultery: Although he's ultimately shown to be in the wrong by virtue of pursuing an affair, Mark counts as more of a "good" adulter, while Warren is arguably his foil as a "bad" adulterer.
- Oblivious to Love: Mark is obviously too distracted to notice that Henry has a crush on him.
- Parent-Preferred Suitor: Mark's parents are implied to prefer Warren over Richard.
- Remarried to the Mistress: We eventually learn Mark's mother was the other woman in his father's first relationship... which did not stop him from repeatedly cheating on her as well once they were together.
- Satellite Love Interest: Warren doesn't get as much backstory or focus as Mark. The most we know about his past is that he'd fallen on hard times and got out of them through his boyfriend John, who introduced him to the club.
- Secretly Wealthy: Although it's not explicitly stated in the film itself, Mark is shown to come from an affluent upbringing in Switzerland judging by his parents' lavish home in Geneva. Subverted in that Mark himself is nowhere near as well-off on his own and is definitely not the breadwinner in his relationship with Richard.
- Ski-Resort Episode: Mark takes Warren to visit his parents in Switzerland over the holidays.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: After their affair is exposed, torpedoes their personal lives and nearly kills the club, Mark and Warren do not end up together, with Mark being the one choosing to end their relationship.
- Where Everybody Knows Your Flame: Downplayed. The scenes set in gay clubs are very much gay clubs, but not to an exaggerated or stereotypical degree.
