Beyond the Walls (Hors les murs)

Beyond the Walls (Hors les murs), dir. David Lambert, 2012, France, 98 min., in French and Albanian with English subtitles 
Thursday, June 27, 9:30 pm @ Castro

Guillaume Gouix (Ilir) and
Matila Malliarakis (Paulo)

Paulo, a young pianist, meets Ilir, a double-bass player originally from Albania. They fall deeply, madly in codependency, but try to convince themselves and the audience that it’s true love. Paulo impetuously tells his girlfriend (from whom he is mooching a place to live), so she kicks him out, and like a wounded bird with puppy-dog eyes he wheedles reluctant Ilir (who had clearly envisioned nothing more than a “no strings attached” quickie) into letting him move in. Paulo eventually promises eternal love and devotion to Ilir, who promptly disappears, turning up in prison. The constraints of prison visitation crimp, but do not end, their burgeoning codependency. How will the lost puppy survive without his big strong man, and how will his man survive in prison with the over-the-top public displays of affection in the visitation hall? If you’ve ever been tempted to “rescue” a down-on-his-luck street twink, this film stands as a cautionary tale for you; otherwise, don’t waste your time. Not recommended.

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