KING OF ESCAPE, THE (LE ROI DE L'EVASION)

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Dir: Alain Guiraudie, France, 2009, 35mm, 93min
French with English subtitles
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Foreign Language, Sci Fi
Identity: Gay

Official Selection at 2009 Cannes Film Festival, King of Escape is a French comedy, unlike anything you’ve seen. If you like your queer films a little left-of-centre, then this is the film for you.

Life isn’t too exciting for 40-something Armand. Despite living in the French countryside, his job selling tractors doesn’t really push his buttons. And his sex-life consists of getting off at the local beat, where he seems to know everyone. While cruising in town one night, he follows a potential pick-up, but sees a young woman being hassled by a group of young thugs. He has to make a decision – sex with a hot guy, or rescue someone in distress. He chooses the latter, and saves 16-year-old Curly, who is instantly attracted to her bearish knight in shining armour. Against the odds, Armand and Curly start seeing each other, and when Curly’s father finds out he files a complaint against them. But these two mismatched lovebirds won’t be dissuaded, and Armand, swept away by Curly’s energy and passion, runs off with the teenager, followed in hot pursuit by the cops.

This hilarious black comedy from famed French director Alain Guiraudie straddles the line between fantasy and reality in examining the extreme realm of impossible love. Expect the unexpected in this wonderfully realised, and at times shocking, cinematic treat. (PT)

Director’s Fortnight, Cannes Film Festival 2009

Australian Premiere