Mope

Here's another one of those "stranger than fiction" stories. Mope offers a psychologically nuanced character study about the friendship between two down-and-out guys whose dream was to become legends in the porn industry. The film is just explicit enough to give a gritty portrayal of the bizarre world of porn, without compromising its suitability for mainstream theaters. It doesn’t feel like it pulls any punches or makes unnecessary compromises. Mope is highly entertaining with a surprisingly light-hearted atmosphere at times. However, calling it a comedy might be a stretch, as most of the humor comes naturally from the absurdity of filming porn scenes, like the unforgettable opening bukkake scene. Beyond the laughs, it’s a well-crafted drama that gradually dials up the tension, leading to an emotionally charged finale. Steve Driver and Tom Dong may not have become the Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan of the porn world, but they certainly made a name for themselves, albeit not in the way they intended. (06.10.2019)

"Mope" is what they call an actor who is an extra, a bottom-tier porn performer willing to do the dirtiest, most depraved work conceivable. So, that is why exactly the two main characters here are nicknamed “the Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker of porn” - two undesirables allied to each other, wanting to become stars. However, they choose a rather dubious path to stardom, which is already doomed to failure. This is a really well-made psychological study in repressed frustration, which, like a ticking time-bomb, leads to a disagreeable ending, and is a subject rarely broached. This is quite a non explicit drama with large amounts of humor, based on a true story, around real events in 2010. Therefore, if you want to experience being surprised while watching this movie, I suggest that you avoid spoilers and do not try to find out about it beforehand. [Sitges 2019] (09.10.2019)