Theo and Hugo
Original Title
Paris 05:59 (Théo et Hugo dans le même bateau)...aka: While Paris Was Sleeping- Director: Olivier Ducastel; Jacques Martineau
- Writer: Olivier Ducastel; Jacques Martineau
- Producer: Emmanuel Chaumet
CGiii Comment
20 minutes of porn...followed by conversation and crisis...
The crisis is of one's self-making...which makes it a little difficult to empathise. Unsafe sex in a gay sex club...you're just asking for trouble...and, trouble he got!
Whether you want to be privy to this 'trouble' depends wholly on your personal sensibility...on one hand, it's a story - told in real-time - of an irresponsible dick-for-brains dickhead...on the other, it's still a story - told agonisingly in real-time - of an irresponsible dick-for-brains dickhead!
It doesn't exactly deliver a very good message about young gay men who frequent such establishments...a few minutes of latex-free fun with a stranger (or two, or three) can result in a life-time of pill-taking.
Thankfully...in the most of the Western world, we have medical services with dedicated professionals who tirelessly, endlessly deal with the aftermath of 'fun'...
Here's a terrifying statistic, courtesy of http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet -
Since 2010 there have been no declines in new HIV infections among adults.
If ever there was an argument for PrEP - you've just read it!
Now...it does sound as if we absolutely hated this film...actually, we didn't! It highlights the problem...with an assured and relatable clarity. It could even be construed as [quite] clever...by using the pornography as a hook...steady on, the offensiveness of that assumption is mind-blowing! Discuss!
This is a film that will elicit great discussion...unfortunately, the stable door was bolted too late!
If ever there was an argument for PrEP - if you watched this film, you've just seen it!
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Théo and Hugo encounter each other’s bodies in a sex club. They talk, things blur into the haziness of unbridled desire, then take shape for a moment as their gaze meets before they resume their exploration and lose themselves anew. A few moments later the two men feel the need to go outside. Together they drift down the deserted streets of nocturnal Paris. Suddenly they find themselves confronted by a sense of reality that wipes out their freedom and aimlessness and lends each step an existential helplessness. Do they want to know more about each other? Will their trust be rewarded? What are their expectations?
Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau display consummate sensitivity in bringing us closer to two men as they strive for intimacy in spite of being stalled by their insecurity. Their two leading actors delight us with their remarkably intuitive performances and their incredible charm.
Cast & Characters
François Nambot as Hugo;;
Geoffrey Couët as Théo Daumier;
Mario Fanfani as Homme au smartphone;
Bastien Gabriel as Partenaire de Hugo;
Miguel Ferreira as Premier partenaire de Théo;
Arthur Dumas as Second partenaire de Théo;
Éric Dehak as Barman;
Patrick Joseph as Caissier;
Elodie Adler as Infirmière d'accueil;
Jeffry Kaplow as Râleur urgences;
Claire Deschamps as Interne;
Georges Daaboul as Vendeur syrien;
Marief Guittier as Femme du premier métro