Our review from Sundance put it perfectly in its opening line. Filmmaker “Ira Sachs prefers relationships of the doomed variety.” Throughout the indie writer/director’s career, Sachs has— in films like “Love Is Strange,” “Little Men,” “Keep the Lights On” and especially in his debut, “The Delta”—explored the difficulties and traumas of love and how the best intentions can go sour. Sachs’ latest is “Passages,” a sexy, sultry, but emotionally difficult drama about selfish narcissists and their sexual exploits.
The film stars Ben Whishaw, Franz Rogowski, and Adèle Exarchopoulos and centers on two men who’ve been together for fifteen years and what happens when one of them has an affair with a woman. Rogowski and Exarchopoulos are obviously international arthouse stars, and Whishaw has had an acclaimed career on the stage, the screen, and even on TV.
“With remarkable yet finite empathy, Sachs disassembles a star-crossed trio’s desires, challenging his creations to grow wiser and stronger for it,” our review wrote from Sundance earlier this year. “They don’t all possess the perspective to see how heartbreak can be a productive, vulcanizing proposition, but by the last gasp of their extinguished flame, we do.”
Here’s the official synopsis:
After completing his latest project, filmmaker Tomas (Franz Rogowski) impulsively begins a heated love affair with a young schoolteacher, Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos). For Tomas, the novelty of being with a woman is an exciting experience that he is eager to explore despite his marriage to Martin (Ben Whishaw). But when Martin begins his own affair, the mercurial Tomas refocuses his attentions on his husband. Set in contemporary Paris, PASSAGES charts an escalating battle of desire between three people, where want is a constant and happiness is just out of reach. Exquisitely shot and featuring honest, emotionally nuanced performances, Sachs has created a breathtakingly intimate and insightful drama exploring the complexities, contradictions, and cruelties of love and longing.
“Passages” opens on August 4, 2023, via MUBI. Watch the new trailer below.
