大象传媒

Heading South is a well-crafted adaptation of three short stories about rich, white, middle-aged North American women travelling through 70s Haiti in search of no-strings sex with young black men. French director Laurent Canet casts legendary screen siren Charlotte Rampling alongside Karen Young (The Sopranos) and Canadian actress Louise Portal. Set at the height of the 'Baby Doc' dictatorship, the women's personal accounts highlight a stark contrast between the privileged world of sex tourism and the poverty experienced by the community at large.

Through a series of monologues, Ellen (Rampling), Brenda (Young) and Sue (Portal) reveal their motivations for making the trip. These women are happy to buy the affections of the young men who loiter around, their favourite being the Adonis-like Legba (M茅nothy Cesar). However, Brenda's determined pursuit of the man starts to cause trouble in paradise. Meanwhile the Hotel Manager, Albert (Lys Ambroise), provides an insight into the Haitians' attitudes towards the pampered tourists. He talks about his father and grandfather's abiding hatred towards all white people, especially Americans.

"A DETAILED LOOK AT OLDER WOMEN'S DESIRES "

Hollywood's attempts to acknowledge the sexual desire of older women generally get no further than casting Uma Thurman in a romantic comedy. Canet's thought-provoking drama, by contrast, provides a detailed (if ultimately negative) look at the subject. Rampling gives a typically powerful performance and, unlike her character, has certainly lost none of her allure to audiences of a certain age.

In French with English subtitles.

Heading South is released in UK cinemas on 7th July.