The Gigolos

[MichaelB]

The Gigolos



A highly original and understated comedy set in London's male escort scene. The smooth and charming Sacha is a favourite among the wealthy but lonely over-50s (his 'regulars' played by Susannah York, Anna Massey, Sian Phillips and Angela Pleasance). When an injury puts Sacha out of action, his younger live-in valet and manager Trevor stands in, with consequences that shake up their close and dependent partnership.

[MichaelB]

UK 2006; Director: Richard Bracewell; Colour; 95 mins

A highly original and understated comedy set in London's male escort scene. The smooth and charming Sacha is a favourite among the wealthy but lonely over-50s (his 'regulars' played by Susanna York, Anna Massey, Siận Phillips and Angela Pleasence). When an injury puts Sacha out of action, his younger live-in valet and manager Trevor stands in, with consequences that shake up their close and dependent partnership.

Full specs announced:

BFI have announced the UK Region 2 DVD release of The Gigolos on 9th February 2009 priced at £15.65 RRP. Set in the world of male escorts in London’s Mayfair, the smooth and charming Sacha (Sacha Tarter) is a favourite among the wealthy but lonely over-fifties –his ‘regulars’ elegantly played by Susannah York, Siân Phillips, Angela Pleasence and Anna Massey.

When an injury puts Sacha out of action his younger live-in valet and manager – the awkwardly sophisticated loner, Trevor (Trevor Sather) – stands in, creating a jealous rivalry which threatens their co-dependent partnership.

This ‘buddy’ comedy from British newcomer Richard Bracewell comes to DVD with the following features:
• 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
• English Dolby Digital Stereo (320kbps)
• English HOH subtitles (except How to Write a Hollywood Screenplay)
• Feature commentary by Bracewell, Tarter and Sather
• Gigolos Uncovered (Paul Sullivan, 2008), ‘making-of’ documentary (28 mins)
• The Big Idea: a portrait of entrepreneurial Britain (Richard Bracewell, 2003), short film from the creative team behind The Gigolos (28 mins)
• Interview with director, BBC Film Network, 2007 (7 mins)
• How to Write a Hollywood Screenplay (Richard Bracewell, 1995), short film written by and starring David Wolstencroft (10 mins)
• Original trailer
• Illustrated booklet with essay by Michael Brooke

[MichaelB]

Metro dubs it "Withnail & I meets Secret Diary of a Call Girl" - which is pretty accurate.

[MichaelB]

The Gigolos has topped the Daily Telegraph's 50 Most Underrated Films Of All Time list.

I tend to be pretty cynical about these space-filling exercises, but this really isn't a bad line-up at all - I never expected to see films like Shinya Tsukamoto's Haze, the Black Audio Film Collective's Handsworth Songs and Philip Ridley's The Passion of Darkly Noon getting namechecked in that particular paper.

Anyway, The Gigolos is currently going for £6.49 in MovieMail's sale, and while it's slightly more expensive on Amazon, I'll link to it anyway because of the overwhelmingly positive customer reviews.

[colinr0380]

I tend to be pretty cynical about these space-filling exercises, but this really isn't a bad line-up at all - I never expected to see films like Shinya Tsukamoto's Haze, the Black Audio Film Collective's Handsworth Songs and Philip Ridley's The Passion of Darkly Noon getting namechecked in that particular paper.

As well as the excellent French 'zombie' (with totally absent gore and with much more emphasis on socio-political commentary) film They Came Back, which I'll always be grateful for this forum raising my awareness about.

It might also be worth noting that, fourteen years after Darkly Noon, Philip Ridley has a new film out - Heartless.