The Man I Love

(L'homme que j'aime)

Directed by StÈphane Giusti

France

U.S. PREMIERE

From the director of last year's overwhelming Festival favorite Why not me? (Pourquoi pas moi?), comes another captivating and bittersweet romantic tale.Ý In the French coastal city of Marseilles, Martin, an out-of-the-closet poolboy, makes no secret of his crush on Lucas, a beautiful brooding straight lifeguard (think of a younger, French version of Sting).Ý In fact, he's positively unrelenting in his pursuit, even using Lise, Lucas' tough-minded girlfriend, to get closer.Ý Martin's obsession is a wondrous and strange thing, and along with Lucas, we are slowly but surely drawn in.Ý But, when Lucas learns that Martin has full-blown AIDS, his growing affection becomes complicated by fear and compassion.Ý Nevertheless, a powerful love blossoms that takes everyone by surprise, and in a poignant reversal, Lucas becomes the doting caretaker for an increasingly distant Martin. Thrown into the mix are a drag queen who lipsyncs in sign language, a mother who drives a hot pink sports car and a gay wedding that succeeds through "guerrilla tactics."Ý In The Man I Love director StÈphane Giusti once again strikes a delicate balance between the serious and the comic, the political and the emotional in this tale of innocence lost and lessons learned.Ý Surrounded by a marvelous and always very human, supporting cast, the pair make a natural duo, and no matter how messy things get, we're rooting for them all the way. ÝIn French with English subtitles.

Director StÈphane Giusti will attend the screening and discuss his work with the audience

7:00 PM Screening $10