‘You’re finished in this business.’ These are the words that Alan Lambert never wanted to hear. As a performer in gay pornography, Alan knew that his time as a hot commodity was limited, and he acted on this knowledge in a way that has its own grotesque logic. He did not want to experience the eventual decline that comes with ageing, so he killed himself – at age 25 – in Montreal, Quebec.The filmmaker William Jones investigates the life and career of this enigmatic young man, who left behind several loved ones and associates, as well as an elaborate suicide letter. Jones set out to make a cautionary film about the vanity of contemporary gay culture, but what he encounters along the way confounds (and surpasses) his expectations. Finished is a story of obsessions: the apocalyptic, messianic fantasy that Alan Lambert could never realize; and the elusive love object that William Jones can never bring back to life. Using images of Alan Lambert and of the places where he lived and worked, Jones narrates a personal and moving account, an attempt to make sense of a life tragically cut short. His approach to the material is cool and circumspect rather than prurient and exploitative. An experimental film exploring an industry thriving in the shadow of Hollywood, Finished is a compelling reflection on the ephemeral nature of glamour and the power of the moving image.
