Romeo Beckham stars in first trailer for French tennis drama Forty Love
The first trailer for the French film Forty Love, Romeo Beckham's acting debut, has been released. It shows him as the rival of a gay tennis star played by Paul Kircher.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The first trailer has been released for Forty Love, a French tennis drama that marks the acting debut of Romeo Beckham, 24, the second-eldest son of Victoria and David Beckham. The IndependentLC “The first trailer for Romeo Beckham’s “sensual” queer tennis drama has landed” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “The trailer for the French movie, which was released on Thursday” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2The outlets differ on the release day: the Daily Mail says Thursday, while The Independent says Friday 16 October. Daily MailR “The trailer for the French movie, which was released on Thursday” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The IndependentLC “Released on Friday (16 October), the trailer” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1The film is directed by fashion photographer Pierre-Ange Carlotti. According to The Independent, Beckham stars opposite Paul Kircher, Guillaume Canet and Benjamin Voisin, and Catherine Deneuve appears to play the mother of Kircher's character. The IndependentLC “directed by renowned fashion photographer Pierre-Ange Carlotti, will see Beckham star opposite Paul Kircher”“Catherine Deneuve who appears to be portraying Sacha’s mother” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2Kircher plays Sacha Gallo, a tennis star training with his father for a major title in Paris. His campaign is disrupted by a new rival, played by Beckham. The synopsis describes the rival as a force "as exhilarating as it is destabilising". Daily MailR “a tennis superstar who's been training with his father to win a major trophy in Paris” Read at Daily Mail ↗ The IndependentLC “upended by the arrival of Beckham’s rival tennis player” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2The trailer shows a love-hate relationship on court and in nightclubs. Beckham's character says, "Sleep with your eyes open. I'm coming for you," and, "It's not my fault if you're f***ing in love with me." The Daily Mail says the pair kiss. The IndependentLC ““Sleep with your eyes open. I’m coming for you.”” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “their tennis rivalry soon breaks through the flirtatious boundary” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Left · 1Beckham is the only cast member who does not speak French, and his scenes are subtitled for French viewers. The Independent also says a line appears to echo a viral 2017 Rafael Nadal quote about Roger Federer. The IndependentLC “is the only actor in the film who does not speak French, with his scenes subtitled for French viewers”““I don’t want to look like I want to be his boyfriend.”” Read at The Independent ↗
Right · 1Studiocanal's head of international sales, Chloe Marquet, said Carlotti's visual language gives the film "a real edge". The film is also described as a "sensual, romantic and deeply moving romantic fable and coming-of-age story". Daily MailR “Carlotti's singular visual language gives the film a real edge”“sensual, romantic and deeply moving romantic fable and coming-of-age story” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Beckham previously pursued football, tennis and modelling. The Independent says he modelled for Burberry, Versace, Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent, and that his girlfriend Kim Turnbull commented on the trailer with supportive emojis. It also says fans compared the film to Heated Rivalry and Challengers. The IndependentLC “having modelled for brands including Burberry, Versace, Balenciaga, and Yves Saint Laurent”“many comparing it to the hit series Heated Rivalry” Read at The Independent ↗ Daily MailR “pursued tennis with his coach at the time commenting that his skills were 'extraordinary'” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Independent treats the trailer as a pop-culture item, built on fan reaction and comparisons to Heated Rivalry and Challengers.
- Emphasis
- Cast, the Nadal reference, fan comments, Beckham's career changes.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the kiss that the Daily Mail leads with.
- Charged language
- “steamy”“sensual”
- For example
-
“fans are very intrigued” — The Independent
“Acting is the latest career pivot for Beckham” — The Independent
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- The Daily Mail leads on Beckham kissing a male co-star and stresses that the film is gay.
- Emphasis
- The kiss, the rivalry turning to romance, Beckham's tennis background, and studio quotes.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little on the wider cast or on fan reaction.
- Charged language
- “passionately kisses”“gay tennis French movie”
- For example
-
“Romeo Beckham isn't holding back in his first foray into acting as he passionately kisses his male tennis rival” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Forty Love is a French film and Romeo Beckham's acting debut.
- Beckham, 24, plays the tennis rival of Paul Kircher's character Sacha Gallo.
- The trailer includes the line "It's not my fault if you're f***ing in love with me."
- Beckham's scenes are in English while the rest of the cast speaks French.
Where accounts differ
-
When the trailer was released
- Left
- The Independent says it was released on Friday 16 October.
- Right
- The Daily Mail says it was released on Thursday.
Romeo Beckham person
Beckham is presented as moving from football and modelling into acting, with his tennis skills said to help him in the role. No direct comment from him appears in either article.
“it seems his skills have now come up in his favour” — Daily Mail
“Acting is the latest career pivot for Beckham” — The Independent
Forty Love product
The film is promoted by its sales company and description as a sensual, tender coming-of-age romance about sport and desire.
“its exploration of desire, competition and identity will resonate with audiences worldwide” — Daily Mail
Left1 article
-
Sympathetic Presents the trailer as an exciting, steamy release, with positive fan reaction and genre comparisons.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
-
Mixed Leads on the kiss between Beckham and a male co-star and labels the film gay, with a lightly sensational tone.
-
GB NewsR ·
- 15 Oct 16:05 First Daily MailR Romeo Beckham passionately kisses his charismatic tennis rival as he makes his acting debut in gay tennis French movie Forty Love
- 16 Oct 10:21 +18h 16m The IndependentLC First trailer released for Romeo Beckham’s steamy tennis drama: ‘It’s Heated Rivalry meets Challengers’
- 16 Oct 11:06 +19h 1m GB NewsR Romeo Beckham shares kiss with male co-star as trailer for acting debut in steamy tennis drama is released
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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