Sauvage

I watched this movie on the evening of March 3, International Day for the Rights of Sex Workers.

I felt how bad it was to be abused.

It is a movie that people can watch to understand what sex workers, male sex workers, LGBTI+ sex workers, gay male sex workers and all sex workers in general are going through.

The film centers around a young gay man and his love for his close friend who is heterosexual but has sex with men for money. In addition, the movie shows the sex work of a gay male man and what happens to sex workers.

I hoped the ending of the movie was different, but that's okay. It was a movie that I watched with interest.

The main actor is a gem, in his performance there's only honesty and pureness. The character is somehow immersed in a difficult world, but as many critiques have already said: it's not paternalistic, cathartic or moralist about it. Leo doesn't seek redemption, help or anything beyond love. Sex work is just a tiny part of a very complex character; who is profoundly strong, naive and beautiful, almost dreamy. He's not the victim, he's a wounded soul who makes continuously bad choices, but the perplexing part to me it was the fact, that he seems at peace with himself and his actions, even at the end of the film. It is been a while since I have seen such a powerful film in terms of character complexity. It's definitely one of those films who won't leave you alone the moment you leave the cinema, it stays for a while in your mind and your heart. That my friends, it's the main point of art existing in the first place.

Really believable characters and behaviour.

The way men connect abuse and live each other is beautifully explored within this film. Beautiful acting and shocking at times.

The smell and energy almost wafts from the screen.

The ending which if course I can't discuss here has left us with a huge debate about why and what and alternative endings.

This film is different from what I've seen before. Takes me into a World I've visited and left. Will tell a story some will know well and others not at all.

It's a violent beautiful erotic film.

Haunting and quite special.

A cruel, brutal and honest depiction of life as a young male prostitute in Paris. Leo lives in a very destructive existence. The movie takes us straight into life and does not hold back for how tough this life is. Felix Maritaud is fantastic in the role of Leo, and is able to express the despair he often experiences. But he also produces a protagonist who may not be able to change his existence (for reasons we do not know). Although the film is both brutal and intense, it also has warmth and shows friendship in a credible way. I also want to draw the effort to Eric Bernad in the role of Ahd. The relationship between him and Leo is one of the film's best scenes, but also the most demanding to be able to relate to. Frankly, I think the movie shows a harsh reality, perhaps in a closed world for most of us. The director will be praised for making a film that really manages to depict a human being in a merciless world. But the movie is also about that despite a tough situation, it's always the choice we take that has consequences. That way, the film does not produce these people as victims, but as living individuals who choose to live their lives, different from most of us. A strong movie, on many levels. Highly recommended.

From the opening scenes you get a sense that this is not going to be comfortable viewing.. But who came here for a comfortable time ? The film is crafted with care, love, attention and most importantly respect. The themes are intense, chaotic and thought provoking giving us a real insight into the life of a gay sex worker. Through out the film there are tender even intimate moments admist the depravity we witness, this is due to the brilliant talent Maritaud who plays Leo, he plays Leo with so much empathy, honour and understanding.