Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intimate French drama has sex, nudity, strong language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Passages
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In PASSAGES, the marriage between gay couple Tomas (Franz Rogowski) and Martin (Ben Whishaw) is thrown into crisis when one of them enters into an affair with a younger woman called Agathe (Adele Exarchopoulos). It sets in motion a chain of events that explores the nature of love, relationships, desire, and ego.
Is It Any Good?
Director Ira Sachs (Love Is Strange, Little Men) delivers here another highly personal account of relationships and their complexities. Passages takes the point of view of fictional film director Tomas, a needy, narcissistic, yet hopelessly romantic lead who bounces back and forth between his long-suffering husband Martin and new lover Agathe. Intrinsically unlikable but undeniably watchable, Tomas is the kind of messy, flawed, and oddly captivating lead that Sachs and his long-time writing partner Mauricio Zacharias never fail to deliver. As Tomas, Rogowski's on-screen presence perfectly complements Whishaw's measured yet heartfelt performance and Exarchopoulos' fiery determination. About as far from a sugar-coated Hollywood love triangle as you could get, the film has a grit, realism, and sexual intimacy that feels suitably French for its Parisian setting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the portrayal of sex in Passages. Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
The main couple in the movie are in a gay relationship. Why is important to see LGBTQ+ representation on-screen -- particularly in central characters rather than supporting roles?
Talk about the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 4, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : December 12, 2023
- Cast : Franz Rogowski , Ben Whishaw , Adele Exarchopoulos
- Director : Ira Sachs
- Inclusion Information : Gay Movie Director(s) , Gay Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Gay Movie Writer(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : MUBI
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : August 7, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate