“Stylish and deliberately alienating, the film took its lead from European arthouse rather than Hollywood.” - Wendy Ide, Times
“The whole movie has a winning sadness about it; take away the story's sensational aspects and what you have is a study in loneliness.” - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Thursday, March 27, 8:30 p.m. & Saturday, April 5, 2:30 p.m. | In Schrader’s stylish neo-noir, Richard Gere stars as Julian, a high-end male escort in Los Angeles who lives a lavish but emotionally unattached lifestyle. Just as he begins a relationship with Michelle (Lauren Hutton), the wife of a politician, Julian learns that a recent client had been found dead, and he is the prime suspect. Set against a backdrop of slick and superficial luxury, with a star-making performance by Gere (and all those incredible Armani suits) AMERICAN GIGOLO is an intelligent thriller ahead of its time, and a profound exploration of the commodification of love and desire. Of his third feature, Schrader said he felt he had arrived as a director.
Awards & Nominations
Nominee - Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Golden Globes
An Evening with Paul Schrader
On Saturday, April 5, Paul Schrader joins us for an intimate conversation about his life and career, followed by the Renaissance Award presentation.
Directed by Paul Schrader Series
Leading up to the Renaissance Award presentation, we will screen seven films written and directed by Schrader, demonstrating the auteur’s provocative explorations of faith, his perpetual examinations of characters’ values in conflict with society, and his indelible mark on American cinema, March 21–April 5.
Curated by Paul Schrader Series
Schrader, a passionate and curious cinephile who began his career as a film critic, has also curated four films for the Film Center’s screens, which will run alongside and complement his own films, March 23–April 4.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu