A young man moves from job to job as he vies to find his true identity and discover his place in the independent drama Masc from director Bertil Nilsson.
the journey to find your place
by Chris Drew
3 stars
Co-writer Joshua Griffin (Magic Mike’s Last Dance) stars as Robin, a neurodiverse, queer and mixed-race man living in London in his 20s.
Rather than a traditional plot, Robin’s story is told in a vignette structure, checking in with him as he tries his hand at different jobs trying to find his place in the world.
The chronology of events is unclear with Robin’s continually changing hair – afro, braided, shaved – providing clues.
In different segments Robin works as care staff in a hospital, as part of a decorating team, in a laboratory and is interviewed in a corporate setting.
Naturally curious, Robin enjoys recording voices of people he meets. However, the project is brought to an abrupt end when he is mugged one evening after being too trusting of a man asking for directions.
Showing kindness to a blind patient in hospital he allows the man to feel his face but is not comfortable being questioned about his ethnicity.
During a moment of release he freely dances around the laboratory but is then becomes possessed by the need to get the CCTV tape.
Robin struggles to know how to react when a friend kisses him in one scene but is then open enough to tell his straight decorating colleagues that his ‘fuckbuddy’ is male.
Notable directorial decisions include not revealing Robin’s face for the majority of the interview in the opening scene after we’ve heard his nervous and slightly awkward replies.
In a reversal later, Robin appears to be the interviewer, but it’s revealed to be a simulation in a drama class. Using many of the same actors the drama class as a meta quality bringing into question the authenticity of earlier scenes.
Robin is a refreshing unpredictable central character, and Griffin gives a compelling performance. Doing a lot of listening, we frequently see his thought processes in real time as they play out across his face.
Masc received a special mention in the First Feature Competition at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival and marks both Nilsson and Griffin as voices to listen out for in UK independent cinema.
Masc screened at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival.
