Russell Tovey delivers a career-best performance, transitioning from a cocky teenager to a cynical, lonely man. Intimate Storytelling:

The story begins in 2006 in a hotel room in Romania. Nineteen-year-old teammates Jason (Russell Tovey) and Ade (Arinzé Kene) are on the verge of their first Champions League match. In a moment of high-energy "banter," an unexpected kiss occurs—a "pass" that fundamentally alters both their lives.

Upon its release in 2016, the film won the . Critics praised it for its bravery and its refusal to moralize. Instead of painting Jason as a villain for his choices, the film presents a tragedy of circumstance—he is a product of a hyper-masculine industry that historically has had little room for diversity.

The Pass (2016) is a tragedy about the pressures — and erotics