Smalltown Boys / Des Garçons de province

Gay life in the countryside differs from the metropolitan one in many ways. A trio of small French towns tells three stories that prove this point. A group of drag performers come to perform at a bar in Vendeuvre-sur-Barse. They find help from a local gay couple – and one of them, Youcef, is unexpectedly smitten by the group. In the town of La Chapelle Saint-Mesmin, a teenager wakes up after a wild night. He checks out his phone and sees a message from a boy who is inviting him over to his home. All he needs to do is put on his high heels and march towards his goal. The final story takes place in Hermoy in the home of Mathieu the photographer who has invited the younger Jonas to photograph nudes. When Jonas arrives, he is surprised it hasn’t been an excuse for sex. With a calm and focused hand, Gäel Lépingle offers us a drama of short stories about men who are, literally as well as figuratively, at a crossroads.