Skip to content
Wherever I Look Logo

Wherever I Look

  • HomeExpand
    • About Wherever I LookExpand
      • Our Writers
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Cookie & Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • HTML Sitemap
  • TV Shows
  • Movies
  • Character Guide
  • Live Performances
  • Videos
Wherever I Look Logo
Wherever I Look

Home - Mixed (Divisive) - The Lost Boys (2023) – Review and Summary

The Lost Boys (2023) – Review and Summary

Zeno Graton’s “The Lost Boys” is an LGBTQ+ drama that creates a lovely atmosphere within a juvenile hall, but you may wonder where exactly this story is headed.

ByAustin Estrada Hours Posted onOctober 23, 2023 8:47 PMOctober 24, 2023 5:17 AM Hours Updated onOctober 24, 2023 5:17 AM

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.


Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.


  • "The Lost Boys" General Information
    • Content Rating Explanation
  • Film Summary
    • Other Noteworthy Information
    • Character Descriptions
      • Joe
      • William
      • Sophie
  • Review
    • Highlights
      • Beautiful Staging and Cinematography
      • Reminiscent of 1960s French New Wave
    • On The Fence
      • "The Lost Boys" Can Make Viewers Feel Lost Too
      • Relationship May Feel Underdeveloped
    • Who Is This For?
    • Recommendations

“The Lost Boys” General Information

Director(s) Zeno Graton
Screenplay By Zeno Graton, Clara Borreau, and Maarten Louix
Based On N/A
Date Released (Film Festival -NEWFest) October 12, 2023
Genre(s) DramaLGBT+

Non-English (French)

Film Length 1 Hour, 24  Minutes
Content Rating Not Rated
Noted Characters and Cast
Joe Khalil Gharbia
William Julien De Saint Jean
Sophie Eye Haidara

Content Rating Explanation

“The Lost Boys” is currently not rated, but includes profanity, some violence, smoking, and sexual content. 

Film Summary

This content contains pertinent spoilers. Also, images and text in this post may contain affiliate links. If a purchase is made from those sites, we may earn money or products from the company.

“The Lost Boys” is a French drama that depicts the life of Joe (Khalil Gharbia), a teenager in his potential last days in juvenile hall. Joe is filled with anger and loneliness. Anger at the world for his treatment as Arab, anger at his mother for neglecting him, and deep loneliness for not feeling like he belongs or is wanted anywhere. Joe spends most of his days reclusive and despondent towards his peers and the activities they’re forced to do; he’s even silent around his social worker Sophie (Eye Haidara), who repeatedly tries to help him. Joe sees no reason to exist, until he meets William (Julien De Saint Jean).

William is the new kid in juvenile hall. Rumor has it that he murdered someone. William keeps to himself with no interest in the other guys in the center. But when he meets Joe, the two lock eyes and find a mutual attraction and empathy for each other. Their relationship grows as the two become vulnerable with each other, physically with each other, and learn to trust someone else again. Yet William and Joe fear their time is short-lived, as Joe also tries to earn his freedom from the juvenile hall and his mom. Joe is faced with the impossible task of earning his freedom while leaving his love in the process. 

William (Julien De Saint Jean) gives Joe (Khalil Gharbia) a tattoo in “The Lost Boys” (directed by Zeno Graton, 2023)

“The Lost Boys” carries the tremendous task of conveying life for adolescents ignored in society and the budding romance between two boys. The stories can be beautiful and reminiscent of classic 1960s French New Wave cinema, but viewers may also feel detached and wonder where the story is going. “The Lost Boys” is driven more by vibes than plot and asks you to color in the details—even the end. 

Other Noteworthy Information

  1. The French title of “The Lost Boys” is “Le Paradis,” meaning “heaven.” 

Character Descriptions

Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.

Joe

Joe is a teenager, yearning to leave his correctional facility but not sure what he’ll do when he’s out. He’s never had much support from family or anyone on the outside, but he finds love and support inside the facility when he meets William.

  • The actor is also known for their role in “Skam France,” their role in “The 7 Lives of Lea,” and their role in “Peter Von Kant.”

William

William is a new member of the juvenile center. While he supports Joe’s happiness, he’s angered and hurt to see him potentially leave. 

Sophie

Sophie is one of the correctional facility coordinators, asking the young men to partake in workshops, to write, and to have dreams, and she guides them through the process of leaving. Sophie also has to be the enforcer of rules and can often clash with Joe and William.

Review

Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)

Highlights

Beautiful Staging and Cinematography

“The Lost Boys” unfolds in natural light and shadows. While most of the colors are muted, the red shirts represent the repressed passion of Joe and William. The burn of a candle or cigarette becomes little glimmers of hope in the dark world of these teenagers. 

Reminiscent of 1960s French New Wave

There’s a moment of liberation near the end of “The Lost Boys.” Joe and William get the escape they’ve wanted together, and everything seems possible and fatal as the camera follows the boys as they run away. The scene calls back to “400 Blows” and the spirit behind the natural and daring cinema that was made in 1960s France. The delicate relationship between two young men, their communication through prison walls, and their longing prioritize emotion over narrative.

On The Fence

“The Lost Boys” Can Make Viewers Feel Lost Too

“The Lost Boys” commits to showing what life for the incarcerated boys is like. How they spend the days behind barbed fences, what workshops they’re forced to do, and how they interact. Little is said, and very little conflict emerges. Perhaps by design, but because of these minimal conflicts and exposition, “The Lost Boys” can make viewers feel incarcerated too. We’re stuck looking for more meaning in the story. 

Relationship May Feel Underdeveloped

The key moments in Joe and William’s relationship can feel heartbreaking, but the journey to get there is underwhelming, as the two mostly share glances, a few lines of poetry, and more of a physical connection. While this also connects to the two protagonists’ desire for each other, “The Lost Boys” may leave some viewers wanting more. 

Who Is This For?

Fans of French New Wave cinema, tales of troubled youth, and LGBTQ+ stories might enjoy “The Lost Boys.”

Recommendations

If you like this movie, we recommend:

  1. Golden Delicious
  2. National Anthem
  3. Moonlight

Check out our movies page for our latest movie reviews and recommendations.

The Lost Boys (2023) – Review and Summary
Overall
"The Lost Boys" can be beautiful and reminiscent of classic 1960s French New Wave cinema, but viewers may also feel detached and wonder where the story is going. “The Lost Boys” is driven more by vibes than plot and asks you to color in the details—even the end. 
Highlights
Beautiful Staging and Cinematography
Reminiscent of 1960s French New Wave
Disputable
“The Lost Boys” Can Make Viewers Feel Lost Too
Relationship May Feel Underdeveloped
75

Follow/Subscribe To Our External Pages

  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Amazon
  • Google
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X

Sending
User Review
0 (0 votes)
  • Check out The Prime Video Storefront To Rent or Buy Movies, or Subscribe To Prime Video Channels
  • Rating System Details

Listed Under Categories: Mixed (Divisive), Movies

Related Tags: Drama, Eye Haidara, Julien De Saint Jean, Khalil Gharbia, Le Paradis, LGBT+, NewFest, The Lost Boys, Zeno Graton

Austin Estrada

I'm a filmmaker and writer that can cook a mean plate of pasta and always meet a deadline. When I write, I most likely have a cat on my lap.
If I’m not watching movies, I’m writing about movies. If I’m not writing about movies, I’m making them.
If you want to see more of my work or have something you think I should see, just reach out!

Instagram

Post navigation

Previous Previous
Fingernails – Review and Summary
NextContinue
Almamula (2023)- Review and Summary

Site Pages

  • Home
  • About Wherever I Look
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie & Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer & Disclosure Policy
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • HTML Sitemap
  • Our Writers
The Wherever I Look logo featuring a film reel, a video game controller, old school TV set, a stage, and more done by artist Dean Nelson.

The overall goal of Wherever I Look is to fill in that space between the average fan and critic and advise you on what’s worth experiencing.

Category Pages

  • Articles
  • Character Guide
  • Collected Quotes
  • Live Peformances
  • Movies
  • Our Latest Reviews
  • TV Series
  • Video Page
Scroll to top

Wherever I Look logo

Welcome to Wherever I Look, your go-to destination for insightful and personable reviews of the latest TV episodes, movies, and live performances. Also, dive into our character guides and discover what’s truly worth your time.

  • Home
    • About Wherever I Look
      • Our Writers
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Cookie & Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • HTML Sitemap
  • TV Shows
  • Movies
  • Character Guide
  • Live Performances
  • Videos
Search