Some of the best short films realise that finding great locations that add to the story can really raise the piece above the ordinary. That’s certainly true here, with director Manfred Rott taking his characters to places in Paris that were built decades ago in the hope of creating a better, futuristic utopia, but which are now strange looking hulks, that are often decaying, impractical and have become hives of dystopia – but still retain an essence of hope.
Here’s the synopsis: ‘Two young French men from different social backgrounds spend time together to know each other. They explore the suburbs around Paris and visit vacated utopian architectural projects built in an era when a better future for all was still the goal of society. Inspired, they hope for their own personal utopia where they are free to love each other.’
Utopies screened at numerous LGBT film festivals and won several awards. It’s easy to see why, as the film is oddly lyrical, sweet, and sometimes pretty perceptive, both in its idea about the utopias of the past and the modern world of young gay men ‘hooking up’ (although it is a little too French for its own good sometime).
Take a look at the film below. If you know a short film we ought to be posting, tell us by getting in touch via our contact page. And check out more gay short films and web series here.
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