Paris 05:59: Théo & Hugo

The first 20 minutes is pure pornography. It is not done distastefully but it is still pure pornography. While that scene is essential to the entire story, it could have been shortened to a lesser 5 or 10 minutes of lesser explicit sex without jeopardizing the story line. But if you are turned on by gay orgies then you have nothing to complain.

But it is after that marathon sex scene that the film took on a completely substantial value. The performance by the two young actors is good but what makes this a masterpiece is the overall story line and flow. It is a real-time film, meaning the time frame of the story being depicted is the real time frame of the length of the film. It really draws you in - if you allow it to. In typical French fashion, it's the undercurrent tension that grips you rather than anything in-your-face. On a deeper level it reminds me a little of Crime and Punishment (Dostoyevsky), not in the nature of the plot but in the subtle yet strong alternating waves of emotions: between morbid fear and banal carefreeness; between romance and anger; between naive innocence and bitter reality; between hope and despair, all happening with the dark, ordinary yet enigmatically charming Paris, as the stage (you won't see any glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, nor the Sacre Coeur nor the dirty ghettos - you see the real Paris ordinaire). It is a plot that lends itself perfectly to French cinematography and style; a story that screams to be given the very French treatment of film making.

I found this movie by chance from a movie magazine. I must say that I was expecting an average movie on gay issues. It was also in Paris and it might be interesting. The movie started with very real scenes from a sex bar in Paris (probably L'Impact). After sex bar scene, movie too all my heart, all my thoughts. As a gay guy who lived in Paris and experienced the similar scenes, I can say that none of movies can depict a love, a romance and a gay life like "Theo and Hugo" depicted. Hesitations between men for a possibility to start an affair, the desire between men, the atmosphere of sex bar, the feelings, walking lonely Paris streets as two guys, stopping in a kebab restaurant (Tarkan's song was in the background), dialogues... unbelievable... It was not like a movie.. it was like a real scenes... If you skip all gay stuff, it is a very beautiful story of a romance... very naive, very innocent...Olivier Ducastel, Jacques Martineau must be congratulated also the players Geoffrey Couët, François Nambot. They all have done a great work. What I lived (incl. HIV+ stuff) when I was in Paris some time ago was exactly was in the movie. No exaggeration, no decoration... the movie streams like La Seine... peacefully, perfectly and glamorously. Thank you guys!

The title characters in "Théo et Hugo dans le même bateau" meet in a dark room and connect instantly. Then they stroll the streets of early morning Paris together. From its raunchy, explicit beginning, this charming film evolves into a sweet and somber romance, echoing of Richard Linklater's "Before Sunrise"-trilogy. Consequently, Théo's and Hugo's story comes across an unforgettable and ultimately very charming affair.

In his Variety review, Jay Weissberg gave this movie a passing comparison to Andrew Haigh's "Weekend," which is easily my favorite homo flick, so I had to give this one a go.

I see the similarity: a first-time encounter leads to sometime more, along, of course, with some inevitable bumps in the relationship road.

The premise of having events unfold in 'real' time is an interesting angle, almost a gimmick, that somehow works, despite a few scenes that seem to last forever: eating a twinkie ("cake") at the ER visit; a much-too-forced conversation with a fellow Metro passenger who can't afford to retire, so she commutes to a hotel housekeeping job every day; the first 18 minutes of orgy at a sex club.

The casting is another interesting angle: the leads aren't typical drop-dead-gorgeous hunks: their bodies, their faces, their *ahem* packages aren't classic attention-getters, but they're real enough, handsome enough, and equipped enough to deliver a "real man in Paris" feel. And Paris, too, certainly feels real enough, despite the early-morning setting which makes the city feel almost deserted. And almost safe to be in, public displays of affection and all.

I was surprised at how well this movie worked.

It will never win awards but it wormed its way into my heart and psyche in a way that not many others have.

Good job, co-directors Ducastel and Martineau.

It works.

Very well done! Explicit nudity, erections, and what appear to be both actual sex scenes and simulated sex scenes, if I'm remembering correctly. Definitely not for the kids! When two young men meet at a french sex club, they are so caught up in the moment, they don't have safe sex, and the film shows what takes place after that. Mostly great acting, great direction. And the scenes of paris were fun to see. Currently showing on tubi streaming. Seems to be a project by the team of olivier ducastel and jacques martineau. Serious subject matter, but ends on a good note. It's not dark and dreary, as the lgbt films were for so many years. Will be curious to see what other projects they have done.