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In the strict confines of a youth detention center, forbidden love begins to grow in Zeno Graton’s daring and heartfelt first film. Despite his numerous attempts to escape, Joe (portrayed brilliantly by Khalil Ben Gharbia) is constantly sent back to the harsh facility. When William (played by Julien De Saint Jean), a fellow detainee known for breaking the rules, arrives, Joe’s mind opens up to new desires. Though they are unable to physically escape, the connection between the two boys becomes a way for them to find emotional freedom.
Their strong connection defies the strict rules and constant monitoring that govern their actions. The days are now filled with not just tasks and lessons, but also tender moments of affection. At night, the lovestruck couple presses their bodies against the wall that divides their cells, reminiscent of a scene from Jean Genet’s iconic LGBTQ+ short film “Un Chant d’Amour” where two prisoners share a cigarette through a hole in the prison wall.
In Graton’s film, the issue of structural abuse is highlighted as the main cause for the detainees’ involvement in criminal activities. Despite efforts for rehabilitation and the good intentions of social workers, these measures are proven ineffective. During a poetry exercise, Joe becomes emotional as he shares his piece, which delves into his difficult home life and the systemic racism he faces as a French youth of Arab descent. The cycle of incarceration, by design, seems impossible to break out of. However, the film also explores the idea of a different type of cycle – one of spiritual rebirth, symbolized by the love between Joe and William and the ouroboros tattoo on Joe’s body.
Source: theguardian.com
