FEMME

Director  Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping

UK | 2023 | 99min | Color | Thriller | 18+ | GT

Languages English Dia | Subtitle Korean Sub

<Femme>, the opening film of the 13th SIPFF (directed by Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping) was invited to the competitive section of 2023 Berlinale, and won Director Award and Best Actor Award at 2023 Fantasia International Film Festival. With the genre of queer thriller, the film describes the complex revenge of a drag queen toward a denial gay who hides his true identity. 

Jules (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett), a drag performer at a queer club in London, is exposed to ridicules and hatred of robust, young men at the convenience store he visits after his splendid daily show. As expected, the hateful gaze of the leader, Preston (George Mackey), leads to a bloody fight and hate crime. However, one day, Preston encounters Jules at the locker room of a gay sauna, and have one night stand with him, without noticing that Jules was the person he viciously assaulted a few weeks ago. 

Hiding his own identity, Jules has rougher sex with Preston, dreaming of taking revenge on him by spreading a revenge porn to out him. However, as time passes, the two gets closer and they both start to have complex feelings. Finally, Jules invites Preston to his drag show, which makes Preston realize that Jules has been deceived him so far, and they face an irretrievable ending.  

As a stylish thriller film, <Femme> absorbs the audience, makes them feel pitiful for the two main characters, and finishes while providing them lingering sense of pitiful pain. One oversea critic extolled the two actors by saying, “the fearless acting of George Mackey and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett complicates the intriguing queer revenge.” 

SIPFF has screened great films, including <Stranger by the Lake>, <Pride>, <120 BPM>, <Portrait of a Lady on Fire>, <Peafowl>, and etc., that has been recognized in distinguished film festivals all over the world as its opening film. It is expected that this year’s opening film, <Femme>, will also be loved by SIPFF’S audience, make great hit, and continue the records of sellouts. 

| Synopsis |

Follows Jules, who is targeted in a horrific homophobic attack, destroying his life and career. Some time after that event he encounters Preston, one of his attackers, in a gay sauna. He wants revenge.