Cannes Film Fest 2007–“Before I Forget,” the latest from acclaimed French director Jacque Nolot (“Porn Theatre,” which premiered in the Fortnight Directors sidebar of the 2007 Cannes Film Fest), begins its exclusive U.S. engagement at the IFC Center, courtesy of Strand Releasing.
Gay Directors. By Emanuel Levy (Columbia University Press)
Jacques Nolot stars in and directs a personal, quite touching tale of a downward spiraling gay gigolo, struggling to cope with his advancing age, poverty, loneliness, writers block, and the increasing complications of HIV disease.
When his wealthy benefactor dies after thirty years of lavish support, his inheritance is challenged by the benefactors family, leaving him destitute. Underscoring his every move is the fear of being forgotten, or worse: dying back where he started on the streets. Young hustlers, drugs, alcohol, and countless cigarettes provide momentary distractions, but ultimately, he must face his inner demons in order to be free of them.
Pierre, 58, was a hustler in his youth, but is no longer desirable; now, he is the one paying for sex.
In the morning, Marc, a young hustler arrives, and they have sex, but the joyless encounter is quick; Pierre has been HIV positive for 24 years and his meds have affected his potency.
Marc invites him to a drag club but Pierre rejects the offer because he would have to shave his mustache.
Pierre later visits Jacques, a wealthy gay friend, who is married and has tax problems, and they compare bargains on gigolos. Pierre brags that he has acquired a young man for half the price that his friend paid.
A trip to Pigalle for sex is curtailed due to Pierre’s impotence problem. At his lawyer’s, an old gay man, Pierre runs into a friend from years ago, Paul, an ex con who has inherited money from Gaston, an ex-lover of Pierre.
Pierre casually mentions that he used to cruise with Roland Barthes and later reflects on his lost youth and good looks, while in the past, “Apart from sun, cock, and bars, nothing much interested me.”
Toutoune, Pierre’s former older lover and patron, 35 years older than him, died recently and Pierre had been hoping to inherit his money, but no will was found and he was swindled out of his inheritance. He visits Toutoune’s house looking for some artwork that was left to him.
“What would make me happy? Nothing…” he says, adding that a new young lover might do the trick.
Pierre visits his psychotherapist to discuss his depression, bu. the therapist shuts down the session.
Back home, Pierre worries that his medication, aside from warnings about liver trouble and other side effects, will make him lose his hair.
Later, Pierre gives oral sex to a man who delivers his groceries, advises a young gigolo and visits his friend David.
In the final scene, he dresses in drag and visits a porn cinema with Marc.
Cast
Jacques Nolot as Pierre
Marc Rioufol as Paul
Bastien d’Asnières as Marc
Bruno Moneglia as Bruno
Jean Pommier as Georges
David Kessler as Manosky
Albert Mainella as Toutoune
About Jacques Nolot
Nolot, born in Marciac, France, wrote several plays and scripts, performed on the stage and acted in numerous films by directors including Luc Moullet, Claire Denis, Jacques Demy, Franois Ozon and others.
He also co-wrote Andre Tchines “I Don’t Kiss” (1991) and performed in several of Tchines films over three decades. He has directed, written and performed in the short film “Merry-Go-Round” (1986) and the features “The Hinterlands” (1998), which won a Prix de la Jeunesse at the Cannes Film Festival, “Porn Theatre” (2002) and “Before I Forget” (2007).
Running time: 108 Minutes.
The film is unrated.
French with English subtitles
