On the wrap social gathering for the shoot, Tomas is joined by his husband, Martin (Ben Whishaw). After a bit bantering about whether or not or not they’ll be dancing, the pissed off Tomas sashays onto the ground with Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos), who’s been hanging concerning the set. They’re intrigued by one another. Agathe has actually simply dumped her boyfriend and is extraordinarily accessible. Tomas, however, is, sure, married, however he’s additionally—properly, essentially the most charitable strategy to put it’s that he’s very open to expertise.
The extent to which Martin and Tomas’ relationship is open is rarely made express, however after spending the evening with Agathe, Tomas is inclined to overshare and exuberantly. “I had intercourse with a girl. Can I inform you about it?”
Martin doesn’t reply enthusiastically, so Tomas continues, “It was thrilling! It was one thing totally different.” Hey, welcome to the membership, Tomas. Anyway. Martin lastly responds, “This all the time occurs whenever you end a movie.” Whereas “Passages” doesn’t spend a lot time in Tomas’ modifying room, its timeline terminates as his film is about to go to Venice. So there’s a subtext that we’re seeing this character in a sure excessive state, however “Passages” doesn’t belabor it; it definitely doesn’t attempt to use inventive work stress to excuse his habits. Switching up your sexual orientation is an uncommon method to post-production coping, it’s important to give Tomas that.
Franz Rogowski’s efficiency as Tomas is fascinating. How he manipulates these round him is sufficient to make him borderline repellent, and Rogowski, leaning exhausting right into a speech obstacle and all method of slippery postures, imbues the character with near-rodent-like qualities. But one understands why each Agathe and Martin are so bodily drawn to him.
And that is the opposite factor that makes “Passages” a compelling story: Neither Agathe nor Martin is inordinately weak. At totally different factors within the narrative, they provide in to Tomas and his whiny methods, however they’re not victims. Whishaw’s character is a printer with a pointy eye and a steady-as-she-goes confidence in himself. Exarchopoulos exhibits how Agathe will get swept up in Tomas’ off-the-wall enthusiasm however demonstrates her dedication to residing life realistically, as her motion after Tomas betrays her very bluntly exhibits.