Sauvage : the shocking film about male prostitution

Aug. 27 2018

by Guy

Described as the "shock film" of the Cannes Film Festival by the press, Sauvage will be released this Wednesday, August 29 in French theaters. Camille Vidal-Naquet's first feature film tackles a subject that has been little exploited in the film industry: male prostitution.

The scenario is centered on the character of Leo, a young man of 22 in search of love who sells his body for a little money in streets frequented exclusively by men. With no home or material possessions, Leo lives on carpe diem. However, as time goes by, he realizes that his heart beats more and more for his clients.

Like his first name, Leo is a "lion", a wild animal that survives in the wild. He does not seem to be affected by his social situation and even seems to appreciate it. He does not differentiate between his clients, going from a young man of his own age to a much more mature and older man. Every hug, every kiss, every tenderness he exchanges with his clients represents the main character's need for love.

Like the lion, Leo also has a pack. Among them is Ahd (Eric Bernard), a straight prostitute and fellow traveler with whom he would have liked to have a relationship if he did not continually refuse. Unlike Leo, Ahd is looking for a man rich enough to take care of him.

It is difficult to know if the main character is looking to be tamed or to live freely and monotonously like a wild animal. Sexuality is in any case a remedy for Leo. The tiredness caused by the sleepless nights he has to endure is marked on his face but he breathes freedom because he is a survivor.

Awarded the Male Revelation Prize in Sauvage by the La Semaine de la Critique jury and a new winner of the Valois for Best Actor at the 2018 Angoulême Film Festival, Félix Maritaud faithfully embodies the film's gay prostitute. The theme, both touching and surprising, had immediately won over the jury at the last Cannes festival.

The actor who had already distinguished himself in 120 beats per minute by Robin Campillo, Grand Prix du Jury of the Cannes Film Festival 2017 edition, offers here an excellent interpretation of a young man in perdition. He is not modest when he appears naked in front of his clients and therefore in front of the spectators who watch the film. His way of walking and his various gestures of gay prostitute were prepared by the choreographer Romano Bottinelli at thethe way he walks and his different gestures as a gay prostitute were prepared by the choreographer Romano Bottinelli at the request of the director, a choreography that was perfectly mastered by Félix Maritaud.

Sauvage is a maximum risk for Camille Vidal-Naquet who is directing her first feature film. Without a doubt, this first experience for the director is full of mastery. He neither seeks to despise male prostitution nor to promote it. It is a question here of speaking about a subject which is rarely evoked. In an interview with AFP, the director said that male prostitutes are invisible and that many people think that they do not exist.

Camille Vidal-Naquet met male prostitutes through an association in order to get inspiration for the script of the film. He explains that he remained too wise to reality. Indeed, Sauvage shows a lot of respect towards the humanity of the characters and especially that of Leo. Nevertheless, the director signs an excellent drama where a young man has made male prostitution a normality.

Sauvage by Camille Vidal-Naquet (France, 1h39) released in theaters Wednesday, August 29, 2018.