“This is not a manifesto of fluidity”

ROME – “This is not a manifesto of fluidity, but a look at generational change that allows us to take a different look at human relationships.“. How Ira Sachs presented “Passages” in Rome, from August 17 in cinemas with Mubi and Lucky Red. A “risky” film, conceived even before the first quarantine. During that period, I felt insecure about cinema, so I felt an urgent need to make a film about risks.”

REVIEWS ABOUT WHAT THE FILM IS ABOUT

Located in modern Paris, “Excerpts” depicts the ongoing struggle of desires between three people, where happiness is simply unattainable.. With beautiful cinematography and honest, subtle acting, Sachs has created an intimate drama that explores the complexities, contradictions, and cruelty of love and desire. Director Thomas (plays Franz Rogowski, who inspired the director for this film.) impulsively begins an intense relationship with young teacher Agatha (played by Adele Exarchopoulos). For Thomas, the novelty of being with a woman is an exciting experience that he wants to deepen despite his marriage to Martin (played by Ben Whishaw). When Martin also begins an extramarital affair, a sullen Thomas turns his attention back to her husband.

PASSAGES, DIRECTOR IRA SAC: “I AM INSPIRED FROM MANY VISCONTI AND PASOLINI”

Fluidity, beautiful bodies that join and separate, breaking a taboo that is still too great in cinema: sex between two men. “In the past, we were much less repressed. We think that with progress things get better and we become more open, but that’s not the case.. To make this film,” Sachs said, “I had to go back to the 70s and 80s, drawing inspiration from films by Luchino Visconti, such as The Innocent, but also Pasolini’s Accatone: transparent films in which there was no sense of shame and sin“.

EXTRACTS, DIRECTOR IRA SAC: “THIS FILM IS A EXTRACT THAT ALLOWS US TO SEE HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS DIFFERENTLY”

Sex scenes “can’t be written. You can create a picture, but then the actors have to give their interpretation. My job is to create a comfort zone with limitations and then leave room for interpretation. I create that initial tension and then leave them free to express themselves.”

Passages is a film about intimacy, actors and risks. I wanted to convey the same feeling, Sachs recalled, that I experienced watching Laura Antonelli in the Visconti film The Innocent. Thomas (Rogowski, ed.) is a character who moves based on desire. There is a gap between what he has and what he would like to have. He is a director with power, but at the same time driven by the pursuit of pleasure. And then there is my desire to please the viewer with light, costumes, photography and all the details.”

“Passages” does not emphasize sexual identity or fluidity. “This is a story that can be read in many ways, I did not want to send any messages.” emphasized the director (married to artist Boris Torres, both parents of twins Felix and Viva), who concluded: “this film is a passage that gives us the opportunity to see human relationships in a new and different way“.