Wasp is a 2015 British/French romantic drama film directed by Philippe Audi-Dor and starring Hugo Bolton, Elly Condron, and Simon Haycock.

Plot

Olivier and James, two men in a

same-sex relationship A same-sex relationship is a romantic or sexual relationship between people of the same sex. ''Same-sex marriage'' refers to the institutionalized recognition of such relationships in the form of a marriage; civil unions may exist in countries w ...

, take a romantic break in Provence in the South of France. Their vacation is interrupted by the sudden arrival of Caroline, a friend of James, who recently broke up with her boyfriend. Caroline's presence causes a strain in the gay men's relationship, as a heterosexual attraction develops between Olivier and Caroline. The heterosexual desire that is building between Olivier and Caroline threatens to undermine both Olivier's gay relationship with James and Caroline's friendship with James. Caroline wants to seduce Olivier, but he resists Caroline's advances. Olivier came out as gay later in life than James, so Olivier has sexual experience with women that James doesn't have. Caroline began her attempt at seducing Olivier when she learned that he had slept with women in the past before he came out of the closet, hoping that she could convince Olivier to sleep with women again. James is unaware that his friend is attempting to seduce his boyfriend. Olivier begins to question whether he is really gay or if he is

bisexual Bisexuality is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one gender. It may also be defined to include romantic or sexual attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity, whi ...

. Although Olivier has developed a growing temptation to sleep with Caroline, his resistance results in Caroline leaving the couple's summer house. James begins to feel suspicious that his boyfriend is cheating on him, leading him to confront Olivier and Caroline. Caroline admits that she tried to seduce Olivier, but Olivier denied any desire to sleep with Caroline. The ending of the film is open-ended, the three of them leaving the house without saying a word.

Background

Philippe Audi-Dor has stated that the film was inspired by his own struggles with his sexuality during his early 20s. Audi-Dor knew he wasn't straight because he has had sexual experiences with men, but didn't feel comfortable identifying as gay because he has had sexual experiences with women as well. The director also stated that writing the character of Olivier was the easiest character to write, since he identified with Olivier's struggle with his sexuality.

Reception

Frank J. Avella, writing for Edge Media Network, wrote that 'Wasp' was a film that had the "audacity to invert the coming out story" and the "audacity to explore the fluidity and complexity of sexuality in a (politically incorrect) manner" by featuring the "ostensibly happy gay couple" have their relationship challenged by Olivier's burgeoning desire for Caroline.

Controversy

Due to the film's depiction of a gay male relationship, ''Wasp'' was banned by the Lebanese Censorship Bureau from being screened at the

Beirut International Film Festival A growing number of film festivals are held in the Arab world to showcase films from the region as well as international standouts. In addition, institutions and organizations in other parts of the world are increasingly honoring the new generation ...

Cast

* Hugo Bolton – James * Elly Condron – Caroline * Simon Haycock – Olivier

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 3509426 2015 LGBT-related films 2015 romantic drama films 2015 films Gay-related films British LGBT-related films Films about infidelity French LGBT-related films Male bisexuality in film 2010s English-language films 2010s British films 2010s French films