The night that Alex and Henry spend in a Parisian hotel room truly stands out.
Henry, who’s known he’s gay for his entire adult life, proposes to Alex that they “should make love” that night. Alex, a young man who’s only just come to terms with the fact he’s bisexual, is understandably nervous. After a crack about Henry’s word choice (“Who says ‘make love’ these days? Are we going to listen to Lana Del Ray while we do it?”), all of Alex’s usual bravado falls away. He’s suddenly soft and unsure. “It’s just…” he says, hesitating. “Who’s gonna… do what? Because I’m— I’ve never— Oh my god, I’m so not playing this cool right now.”
“I went to an English boarding school, dear,” Henry quips. “Trust me, you’re in good hands.”
It’s humorous, sure, but it’s also tender, sweet, and yes, a little awkward. Sex—especially gay sex involving a man who thought he was straight for most of his life—requires communication. That can get awkward! But in the end it’s beautiful, especially in the hands of these actors.
Perez’s timid uncertainty and Galitzine’s gentle understanding make the scene feel all the more intimate. And this moment of refreshing authenticity carries us through the familiar close-ups of skin-on-skin, hands stroking backs, and faces of ecstasy.
Without the lead-up conversation between Alex and Henry, it might have felt cliché. With it, it feels beautiful and real.