Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Passages is a drama about a gay married couple and the troubles that arise when one of them falls in love with a woman.
After wrapping up filming his latest production, director Tomas (Franz Rogowski) goes to a club to celebrate with the cast and crew. His husband, Martin (Ben Whishaw), is there but not in a celebratory mood. When Tomas asks him to dance, Martin refuses and decides to leave. Tomas meets Agathe, a schoolteacher, and dances with her. The two of them get lost in the music and get aroused, then end up having sex at her apartment.
Tomas spends the night with Agathe, then goes home to tell Martin about what happened. Martin doesn’t want to hear about it, which annoys Tomas. The conversation gets heated, with Martin explaining that this happens every time Tomas wraps up a film and he just forgets about it. They argue, Tomas insists that their relationship is deteriorating. Martin assures him not to worry, that everything will be fine.
Later that day while Tomas is in the editing room, Agathe visits him, and they have sex again. From here the film becomes a love triangle that spirals out of control until it reaches its dramatic conclusion.
Some Thoughts:
Director Ira Sachs has a vision for Passages that elevates it above soapy melodrama. Because it’s set in Paris and has the look and feel of films made in the 1970s, it’s easy to forget that it takes place in the present day. Also, the cinematography is well done, this is a good-looking piece of cinema.
Although the acting overall is good, Whishaw really shines. His portrayal of a man unable to let go of his husband is done with ease. Although Martin isn’t the type of role that gets recognized for awards, it’s much more difficult to pull off effectively than a character who is over the top. It takes an understanding of the character and a skill set that few actors have.
Watching Tomas destroy the lives of people who love him is frustrating. Tomas is so busy defending his actions that he doesn’t see how he’s effecting others. Although there are hints that Martin has accepted Tomas for who he is, we don’t know enough about their past to fully understand it. This could have been resolved with one extra scene between Martin and Tomas. We also don’t get enough of Agathe’s story to understand why she allows Tomas to push his way into her life.
When we find out that Agathe is a schoolteacher, it’s a bit confusing. Since she meets Tomas at a club, then later shows up at his editing studio, I assumed she was part of the crew. To see her teaching at an elementary school was baffling. How did she know where Tomas was? Why didn’t anybody ask who she was or why she was there? For a film that goes out of its way to be realistic, this omission is baffling.
The Final Verdict:
Passages is a beautiful and well-done drama that is oftentimes frustrating. The story could use more fleshing out, and aside from one oversight, the film is realistic. If you like a subtle drama, Passages is worth your time.
