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Review

Writer/director Rodolphe Marconi stars as Bruce, a vulnerable grad student who leaves France to pursue art studies at Rome's Villa Medici. Crushed over a loss in his life back home, Bruce begins reaching out to his fellow students and locals for friendship and connection. Matteo, both deep and aloof, charming and peculiar, strikes such a chord that so far as Bruce can tell, a tentative romance begins. However, Matteo suddenly grows chilly and flaky. Time (and some stalking/snooping around) proves that he's brushing Bruce off for Aston, a serial killer-obsessed female student from New York, with whom Matteo also plays torturous romantic mind games. Bruce becomes more and more obsessed, hanging out outside Matteo's apartment - watching his comings and goings. Devastated, Bruce is nonetheless given a climactic opportunity to free himself (and his female commiserator) from Matteo's grip--and it's a shocking, jaw-dropping gesture. Love Forbidden is steeped in rustic tones and naturalistic performances. And damn it's good to see the gay guy and the gal--even if morally questionable in their means--have the last word! (French, Italian and English with English subtitles)

Lawrence Ferber