Let's dive into this story of an idealistic American student searching for love in a historic Scottish city. Set in Edinburgh, "You Like That" follows a young, introverted, gay American student who is desperate to find the kind of love that he's heard about in classic 19th-century literature. Despite being surrounded by the city's rich literary history, he struggles to connect with others and form meaningful relationships in the age of digital communication. As he navigates the complexities of modern romance, he finds solace in poetry—a timeless art form that speaks to his desire for genuine human connection.
You Like That (2023) is an introspective 11-minute short film set in the picturesque city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Directed and written by Jeremy McClain, who also stars as the protagonist Joshua, the story follows an introverted gay American student caught between his yearning for the passionate love of 19th-century Romantic literature and the fleeting connections of modern relationships.
The film offers a quiet, contemplative experience that blends poetic imagery, fragmented dialogue, and muted emotions, leaving much of the narrative to the viewer’s interpretation.
oshua spends his days studying in Edinburgh, a city steeped in literary history, while longing for the depth of relationships he reads about in Romantic literature. But his reality is dominated by digital interactions, like SMS exchanges that feel disjointed and unfulfilling.
After a short connection with Sebastian, played by Marcus Hodson, Joshua finds himself faced with misplaced expectations, vulnerability, and quiet introspection. A microcosm of the struggle by Joshua to balance his ideals of love against the imperfection of human relationships.
As the story unfolds, Joshua finds comfort in poetry, a recurring motif that carries with it a timeless yearning for connection, beauty, and understanding.
