Paris 05:59: Theo And Hugo

It is a somewhat unexpected revelation when the explicit sex (lasting a full 20 minutes at the start of this extraordinarily wonderful new French queer movie) leads into a tender and delightful tale of love at first sight between two cute young guys.

The action is initially set in a dungeon-like atmosphere of a sex club in Paris in the early morning hours. There is a sea of writhing naked bodies in the throes of an endless orgy. Across this crowded room of handsome hunks literally giving their all, curly-haired 20-something Theo (Geoffrey Cou�t) spots Hugo (Fran�ois Nambot), a dark-haired, seemingly experienced guy about his own age toward whom he feels instantly attracted. Theo maneuvers his way through the crowd until he is directly in Hugo's gaze, and the two men instantly lock lips, ignore everyone else, and make love with passion and urgency.

Afterwards, as the boys dress and go out into the dimly lit empty streets, it is obvious that they both felt more than just the usual sexual connection. Hugo laughingly declares, "I think we actually made love and contributed to world peace!" They rent bikes from the street stand and cycle off into the early morning, intent on having some more fun together and getting to know each other a little. However, their good humor quickly dissipates when they realize that in the heat of the moment at the club they had unprotected sex -- and then Hugo discloses that he is HIV+.

In the Hospital Emergency Room their passion turns into anger and confusion as they grapple with the possible consequences of their lovemaking. But as much as they fight and squabble, there is also something that keeps them at each other's sides. As Theo calms down and realizes that the scenario probably isn't as bad as he had, in his panic, first assumed, the two of them set out to spend the hours before daylight exploring the city streets together and discovering much more about each other while doing so.

This remarkably fresh and completely enchanting film deservedly picked up an Audience Favorite Teddy Award at the Berlinale Film Festival when it premiered there last month. No doubt it will go on to become one of the most popular queer movies of 2016 when it plays in other Festivals around the world. Written and directed by gay, partnered filmmakers Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau, whose body of work includes several other queer-positive movies, it so perfectly encapsulates a contemporary gay love story that shows sexual attraction as a major element, but not the defining one.

Credit to the filmmakers for avoiding some of the usual sources of financing for this movie, so as not to have compromise the very sensuous and insatiable sex that starts the story rolling. Inevitably, it will be that first chapter that becomes the main talking point of the movie; that is a pity, as it distracts from the wonderful love story that is the movie's real heart.

Kudos to the two newbie lead actors Cou�t and Nambot, who have just the right amount of chemistry together to convince the viewer that Theo and Hugo can, and will, make a lasting relationship.