PASSAGES

(director/writer: Ira Sachs; screenwriter: Mauricio Zacharias; cinematographer: Josee Deshaies; editor: Sophie Reine; cast: Franz Rogowski (Tomas Freiburg), Ben Whishaw (Martin), Adèle Exarchopoulos (Agathe), Erwan Kepoa Falé (Amad), Arcadi Radeff (Dirno), Léa Boublil (Erica), Théo Cholbi (Jeremie), William Nadylam (Clement), Tony Daoud (Tony), Sarah Lisbonis (Sarah), Anton Salachas (Elias), Thibault Carterot (Thibault); Runtime: 91; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Said Ben Said/Michel Merkt; Mubi//SBS Productions; 2023-France-in French with English subtitles)

“It features a remarkable Franz Rogowski performance.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

American gay director Ira Sachs (“Love is Strange”/”Little Men”) films in Paris a troubling love triangle drama he co-writes with Mauricio Zacharias. It’s an emotional story about a charming bisexual narcissist. It features a remarkable Franz Rogowski performance.


The self-centered Tomas (Franz Rogowski), a flighty German film director living in France, is married to the artist Martin (Ben Whishaw). Meanwhile the restless Tomas meets a teacher, Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos), at a bar and has sex with her. He then goes back and forth between romancing both Agathe (who becomes pregnant) and Martin. This doesn’t satisfy either of the lovers, and leads to an ending the narcissistic director doesn’t expect.

It’s very much a French film. A dark tale showing the pain some lovers can inflict on others.

It played at the Sundance Film Festival.



REVIEWED ON 6/23/2023  GRADE: B