Twisted queer-drag romance drama “Solo” has the makings of “Passages” meets “Priscilla Queen of the Desert.”
Written and directed by Sophie Dupuis, “Solo” stars Théodore Pellerin and Félix Maritaud as two drag performers whose love affair threatens both of their careers. The feature won Best Canadian Film at TIFF 2023, and is distributed by Music Box Films.
“Solo” is described as “an electrifying love story” that “quickly develops when a rising star in the Montreal drag queen scene meets his club’s newest performer.” Its logline asks: “How long can the couple sustain an artistic double act when the solo spotlight beckons?”
Pellerin plays Simon, a rising star in Montreal’s drag scene best known for performing lively disco pop numbers weekly at his local club. But when he meets new club recruit Oliver (Maritaud), a creative collaboration begins to flow alongside their flourishing romance…that is, until Oliver’s seemingly dormant dominant instincts and destructive behavior jeopardize Simon’s space in the spotlight. On top of that, Simon’s opera-diva mother is back in his life after years on the road, putting his personal life on tilt along with his professional one.
Filmmaker Dupuis previously directed her 2017 debut feature “Chien de garde,” which was Canada’s pick in the Oscar race for Best International Film, as well as 2019’s “Souterrain.”
In the press notes for “Solo,” Dupuis shared that she employed a psychologist as a script consultant to fully unpack Simon’s descent onscreen.
“I’m fascinated by human psychology,” Dupuis said. “I wanted to portray a toxic relationship and explore its inner workings, root causes, repercussions, and the reasons why a person might allow themself to be mistreated by someone they love. I wanted to do this with compassion and find ways to understand everyone, without pointing any fingers at so-called ‘villains’ or ‘victims.’ As a screenwriter, it was a wonderful challenge to extend so much love to all parties involved in these types of relationships.”
As for the drag backdrop, Dupuis noted that the film is a “love letter” to the art form.
“Solo” premieres May 24 in theaters from Music Box Films, starting at the IFC Center in New York City. Check out the trailer below.
