Avant que j'oublie|Before I Forget

Director Jacques Nolot stars in this semi-autobiographical tale of Pierre, a one-time gigolo who, now past 60, must pay himself for brief encounters with the young hunks who cross his path. There’s nothing sentimental in this frank look at the life of an aging Parisian gay man who is weary of living after surviving with HIV for 24 years. In between thoughts of suicide, he chats with his pals about earlier days, when he cruised public bathrooms with philosopher Roland Barthes. Eventually, Pierre’s plight becomes trying, and his self-pitying monologues grow tedious. This smart, unusual gay movie just hobbles on too long. 108 minutes | French | MFA: August 13, 15, 16, 17, 21