Femme

I sat watching this after a heavy meal in the evening and had been afraid I might have dropped off. Not a chance. The writing and direction, let alone the two main characters, kept the tension high all the time. An hour and forty minutes seemed to speed by.

I'd been worried that I might not get into the film as the world of drag and effeminacy is not mine. However the brilliance of the acting swept all such doubts aside as Jules and Preston developed their affair.

This isn't a simple revenge film. There's more to it than that and the film starts to delve into real feelings that the two lovers develop for each other.

The ending is bleak but leaves enough scope for hope. I recommend this film.

This film is an uncomfortable watch but quite brilliant for it. An exceptionally well acted study in identity and the effects of of revenge.

The difficult subjects are not avoided and the pace and then the sudden switch of roles leaves us with no doubt about the toxicity that can surround role play and identity when it's just projection. Excellent piece of film work for all concerned.

The acting is superb. I don't recognise anybody from any other work safe for a very brief cameo by Nima Teleghani, who is an actor I have seen on stage (and in Heartstopper.)

I also saw the lead, George Mackay interviewed about the role and the film maker's intentions and he was absolutely invested in the theme and his performance. Excellent acting from the other lead, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. Both bound for brilliant bright futures.

Femme is a brilliantly tense and gripping thriller that will truly have you on the edge of your seat.

It follows drag performer Jules who seeks a unique sort of revenge on the perpetrator of a homophobic attach against him. It's a thoroughly unique and engaging and superbly constructed plot that keeps pace and momentum throughout. It really feels like anything could happen at any moment which gives the film such a great energy.

The greatest thing about this film though is the two lead performances from Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and George McKay. They are both exquisite and bring such intriguing complexity to each of their characters. The dynamic between them is so hard to capture but they both do it so well. The performance from McKay is particularly strong as he cultivates this anything could happen tone through his erratic portrayal of the character.

Aside from the brilliant performances and plot, the tone and style of the film are great and make for a rich and engaging film.

Femme is a powerful, punchy, and unique piece of cinema that will have you hooked from start to finish.

In a nutshutt, Femme is a story about the protagonist's power being stolen and their realization that the only way to get it back is to TAKE IT BACK. And the plan to do so is a story told in the narrative that is enticing, tension building and slow burn perfection.

Following an attack, Jules goes from a confident extrovert to a scared introvert. Months go by and all Jules can do is play street fighter on the couch (albeit well). Jules begrudgingly leaves their flat to go to a bath house. In doing so, a chance encounter with the attacker presents itself. Jules is curious.

Enter Preston... This is a guy who has bad tattoos and a bad attitude. But that doesn't stop Jules from being curious and that curiosity leads to a creative plan of revenge. Does Jules get their power back? You will need to watch this one to find out.

George Mackay and Nathan Stewart both execute phenomenal performances. If you're a fan on Nathan Stewart in this movie, see also the series Soulmates (Black Mirror style genre). I haven't come across George Mackay before, but equally impressed.

Queer movies have been hit and miss recently as they always engage in the caricature of romanticizing the pains between the queer one and the closeted one.

Femme had all the chances of ending in the déjà vu world of sad gay movies but it does the opposite.

By showing incredibly realistic characters, with their emotional anxieties and doubts evolving in real time, by building an insane level of tension and ambiguity, Femme manages the impossible. It resets the queer love story to new highs. There are no arty effects, artificial pose, comfortable moments. This is a drama where love tries to find a place in mountains of pain.

At the center is identity and where each of us fits in defining our queer sensibility. I particularly loved the moments where the closeted one tries to create casual and romantic moments the way his mind can accept it. It's groundbreaking.

Difficult to watch but absolutely outstanding.