Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Sauvage/Wild is a drama about Léo (Félix Maritaud), a homeless sex worker.
One day when Léo is selling himself, he notices Ahd (Farid-Éric Bernard) across the street. The two men flirt with each other, then a car stops and Ahd leans into the passenger window and talks to the driver. After a while, he calls Léo over and they negotiate a threesome.
While the two men have sex with their client, they’re asked to kiss. Léo is more than willing to comply, but Ahd refuses. When the client offers extra money for the kiss, Ahd reluctantly agrees. Léo goes for a passionate kiss, but Ahd pulls away when it gets too serious. Confused, Léo steps back and the client asks Ahd to stay for some extra money.
Léo runs into Ahd the following day, and the two hang out and get to know each other. Although Ahd tells Léo that he’s straight, Léo can’t tamp down his growing affection for Ahd. They continue to hang out, and when Ahd finds a client who will take care of him financially, he takes him up on the offer, leaving Léo to deal with the heartache.
The rest of the movie is Léo dealing with the pain of being separated from Ahd.
Some Thoughts:
Director Camille Vidal-Naquet puts the story in front of the viewer without sympathy or judgment. The visuals are natural, giving the film the feel of a documentary. The realism is enhanced by a cast of fine actors.
Maritaud stands out as Léo, who has accepted his life and doesn’t want pity. Léo is a complex character who is eager for love but has resigned himself to a life where he is constantly degraded, and Maritaud portrays him convincingly and with ease. This makes for a film that is occasionally uneasy to watch.
Léo’s need for affection is what pulls him toward Ahd. Despite Ahd being up front about his sexuality, Léo is drawn to him because of Ahd’s kindness and warmth. It’s a difficult relationship that at times gets violent.
Ahd and Léo are two sides of the same coin. While Léo has accepted his life, Ahd works to get out of it the only way he knows, with his body. Both Maritaud and Bernard give great performances that enhances their characters’ difficult relationship.
The Final Verdict:
Sauvage/Wild is a well-crafted drama that’s not always easy to digest. It’s unsympathetic in its portrayal of a male prostitute who has accepted his life choices.