Watch the first trailer for controversial gay prostitution drama ‘Sauvage’
The film's graphic sex scenes reportedly caused uppity audience members to walk out at Cannes this year.
By Will Stroude
If you’ve found recent LGBT films like Call Me By Your Name and Love, Simon and bit, well wholesome (peach scene excluded, natch), then the gritty debut feature from French director Camille Vidal-Naquet might be the one for you.
Sauvage, which has received its first official trasiler after debuting at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, takes an unflinching look at the world of male sex work as it follows 22-year-old prostitute Leo (Félix Maritaud) as he seeks meaningful connections on the streets of Strasbourg.
The film was nominated for the Queer Palm at the this year’s Cannes Film Festival, but also generated unxpected controversey and headlines after (what we can only assume were uptight) audience members reportedly walked out of the theatre during a particulalry visceral sex scene.
Maritaud was one of the stand-outs of last year’s stunning Aids drama 120 BPM (Beats Per Minute), and the French actor is once again drawing plaudits for his captiviating central performance, as he lays bare the emotional complexity of prostitution and the human need for intimacy as Leo’s lifestyle takes a toll on both his body and soul.
Sauvage hits French cinemas today (29 August), and while there’s no confirmed word on a UK release date, you can expect it to make its way across the Channel over the coming months.
Watcht the trailer for Sauvage below: