Grande École

Lots of sexy fun, Grande École makes no pretense at intellectualism; there's plenty of high drama, lots of naked guys, hot sex and a budding gay romance! Grande École directed and written by Robert Salis gives us a look into the lives of the young elite of France, and it's even more complicated, with race thrown into the stew of sex and class. The film is set at an elite French Business School, where uber-rich kids learn to become tycoons. The action revolves around Paul (Gregori Baquet), who, in one of many parallels to Maurice, is not quite to the manor born. As the film begins Paul is straight and dating a woman. To his surprise, he finds himself emotionally and sexually drawn to his rich, powerful and gorgeous roommate Louis (Jocelyn Quivrin). He finds relief — and and eventually romance — when Mécir, a working-class Arab (in other words, totally inappropriate) young man (Salim Kechiouche) comes on to him hard.

Grande École is a highly dramatic film with searingly graphic lovemaking and two very steamy men's shower scenes. Ultimately, though, Salis gives Paul the same choice that Forster gave Maurice: a life of wealth, power and emotional emptiness or societal ostracism in return for true passion.(French with English subtitles)

Noelle Reilly