A gay couple’s marriage is thrown into crisis when one of them impulsively begins a passionate affair with a young woman.

‘Passages’, Ira Sachs latest movie, centres on a gay couple who have been together for a number of years who find their relationship challenged when one of them has an affair with a woman. The main focus of the movie is on Tomas (Franz Rogowski), a German filmmaker who is married to Martin (Ben Whishaw), and who ultimately starts an affair with Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos). He doesn’t attempt to keep the affair secret, indeed he tells Martin after he first sleeps with Agathe, who initially seems while not happy, accepting of the situation. Over time that will of course change as Tomas’s behaviour and narcissism come fully to the fore.

Essentially this could be called ‘Having your cake and eating it: The Movie’ as it is essentially about one man’s desire to have whatever he wants, whenever he wants, with barely a thought for the effect his behaviour has on those that surround him. Tomas moves between Martin and Agathe whenever he feels like it, almost always craving what he doesn’t have at that moment in time. More than anything it’s the excitement he’s after and the quiet domesticity that he’s settled into with Martin, and then with Agathe, doesn’t live up to his high, and unrealistic expectations. The performances from the central trio, Rogowski in particular, are very strong, but I felt the movie as a whole was a little one note and obvious, and it played out much as I expected it too.

‘Passages’ is an entertaining sex fuelled drama with an intriguing central character who I grew to immensely dislike, but I felt the screenplay was a little light and had less to say for itself than I was perhaps hoping.

Rating: 3/5

Directed By: Ira Sachs

Starring: Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw and Adèle Exarchopoulos

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt16252698/