Walking A Tightrope / Les Équilibristes

1991 | France | Color | 120’

Dir.-Scr.: Nico Papatakis | Cast: Michel Piccoli, Lilah Dadi, Polly Walker

In 1960s Paris, the famous homosexual writer Marcel Spadice falls in love with a young Arab tightrope walker, Franz-Ali. He subjects him to grueling training in order to help him achieve his dream of becoming the greatest tightrope walker in the world. But after Franz-Ali is injured, Marcel abandons him for a petty thief, and the desperate young man is driven to a tragic act.

A tribute to 20-year-old Arab tightrope walker Abdallah Bentaga -whose turbulent love affair with Jean Genet led to his suicide-, Nico Papatakis’s final film is a bold psychological and socio-political drama about class distinction, racism, homosexuality and the dynamics of control and submission. Outstanding performance by Michel Piccoli as the domineering mentor.

Official Competition – Venice Film Festival.

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