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WATCH: New film explores the history of gay cruising, from hankies to woofs

A new docudrama set to air on the BBC tackles gay hookup culture from the 1970s until now.

Have We Met Before? gives a crash course in cruising, from public restroom “cottaging” that offered closeted men an outlet to explore their heavily-guarded sexuality, to the rise of apps like Grindr and Scruff that now dominate the hookup landscape.

The story revolves around two gay men living in London played by Pierre Emo and Stanton Plummer Cambridge. While their characters remain the same age throughout the film, they find one another across several decades using the hookup style du jour.

Interjected with the acted scenes are interviews with real-life gay men between the ages of 19 and 73, giving commentary and context on how gay sex culture adapted and changed over the course of half a century.

The film premiered at the BFI Southbank and was broadcast on BBC 4 last month. No word yet on when and how American audiences can watch.

Check out the trailer below:

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