Femme (2024) Movie Review
In a complicated revenge tale, one assault leads to the desire to create revenge porn but when a romance blooms, so begins the question of whether to take things that far?
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Plot Summary
Jules, who goes by the stage name “Aphrodite” was picking up some cigarettes when they had their first interaction with Preston. It was by no means cordial, as insults were exchanged, and it escalated to Jules being assaulted.
Three months later, at a bathhouse, Jules sees Preston, with Jules out of makeup, and they decide to use revenge porn to get back at Preston. However, what they may not have expected is Preston potentially developing feelings for them and it maybe being reciprocated.
Character Guide
| Character’s Name | Actor’s Name |
| Jules | Nathan Stewart-Jarrett |
| Preston | George MacKay |
Jules
Jules is a performance artist, who lip syncs and tells joke under the persona Aphrodite. They also live in a rather large flat with their two best friends.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Genera+ion.”
Preston
Preston is a young man who rolls with a group of drug dealers, but his focus is mainly in knock off or off-brand clothing. He says he wants to create a marketplace for the little guy, but whether or not that is completely true isn’t investigated. What we do know is that Preston has gone to prison and, on a unrelated note, he is someone who is on the down low – with his preferred position being a top.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Beast.”
Review
Good If You Like
- Moral ambiguity
- Revenge stories
- Random sex scenes
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Notable Performances or Moments
It Could Leave You Torn On How To Feel About Preston
When you meet Preston, it’s easy to write him off as yet another homo averse person, clinging onto hyper masculinity as a shield, for it allows him some sense of belonging. But as Jules finds themselves not just seducing Preston with random hook ups, but being wined and dined, and the two even meeting each other’s friends, things become complicated.
It’s never forgotten what Preston did, nor justified, but Jules did respond in such a way that often gets a rise out of DL men. Which, again, isn’t said to excuse Preston’s actions, but more so question what Jules thought could happen when you implied a homo-averse person is at least bi, in front of their group of friends.
But, setting that aside, at times it is odd to watch Jules go from watching how to setup a hidden cam through porn to seemingly becoming friends and maybe even enjoying the sex with Preston. It all plays out like a weird anime where the initial interaction is horrible, but once they get to know each other, you see a chemistry that clearly can be volatile, yet also bring comfort to both parties.
We learn Preston is one of those people who lives two separate lives. He is hyper-masculine with his friends, but might less so be DL (downlow) as he is discreet. He basically goes on dates with Jules, the sex evolves from wham bam, and I’ll see myself out, and both interact with each other’s friends in a way that seems to go beyond whatever game Jules was playing, or Preston having a sex buddy.
Take note, Preston kisses Jules, passionately, decides to not only sleep in Jules’ bed after a session, but engage with his friends rather than slip out the front door. Never mind, Preston pushes beyond being hyper-masculine as a top, and does allow himself to be submissive and vulnerable.
It is in those moments you can see Jules question their resolve, especially since Preston doesn’t act in ways to remind them why they started this in the first place. Yes, he does have a temper, but it’s clearly based in trauma. His friends make fun of him and know he has been to prison, so what Jules said likely added fuel to the fire. Jules tried to film Preston having sex with him, which was a violation of trust, so of course he gets angry.
But, soon after, since he may have cracked or broken Jules’ phone, he offers to pay for a new one, a better one than Jules had. He also tries to explain himself in such a way that pushes that it isn’t just because he likes having sex with Jules, but wants Jules to understand him and like him despite his flare ups.
It all leaves you so torn because it forces you to question if one ass whipping by Preston justifies not only an act of revenge porn being released but the type of emotional devastation that Preston is going to be subject to. For, similar to MacKay’s “Where Hands Touch,” while you recognize their role in all this, and their autonomy, there is this push to try to understand their position in a way that is uncomfortable.
Background Information
| Film Length | 1 Hour 39 Minutes |
| Date Released | March 22, 2024 |
| Where To Watch | In Theaters |
| Director(s) | Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping |
| Writer(s) | Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping |
| Based On Work By | N/A |
| Genre(s) | Crime, Drama, Young Adult, LGBT+ |
| Content Rating | Not Rated |
Content Information
- Dialog: Discriminatory Language, Cursing
- Violence: Blood, Notable Fight Scenes
- Sexual Content: Nudity, Sexual Situations (Implied)
- Miscellaneous: Drinking, Drug Use, Eating Disorder, Smoking
