Per its title, director Richard Bracewell's low-key, über-British dramedy The Gigolos concerns itself with two male employees of a London-based escort service for women. The picture, however, places far greater emphasis on investigating the relationship between the men per se than it does on exploring the dynamics between the hired companions and their female clients. Sacha Tarter stars as Sacha, a male escort for a firm that caters to affluent society women. Most are middle aged, a few elderly. He is paid to provide them with classy evenings out, and occasional sex upon request. Sacha's "gent" (or pimp/manager), Trevor (Trevor Sather) arranges Sacha's dates and uses his own excellent taste (in food, wine, flowers, and various accoutremenets) to select gifts for Sacha's clients, but is a klutz when it comes to his own personal interaction with women. When Sacha) twists his ankle during an evening out with a fashion designer, Tessa Harrington (screen legend Susannah York), Trevor must temporarily tend to his clients. As Trevor's social skills improve, however, and evenings go supremely well, he begins to fancy himself an escort and steals several of Sacha's clients for himself. Angered, Sacha decides to fight back. Anna Massey (Frenzy) and Sián Phillips (I, Claudius) co-star; Bracewell, Sather and Tarter co-authored the script.
by Nathan Southern
synopsis
