Proud

May 1981. Victor, 17, divides his time between his girlfriend, Aurélie, and the building site where he helps out his father, Charles, the site manager. On the site, Victor is sent into a spin by Selim, the foreman’s son. This infatuation soon gives way to physical passion. Their relationship is impetuous, driven by the instincts of youth. When Charles finds out, the affair becomes tinged with shame and fear. Despite being the first to defend the values of openness and tolerance embodied by the Left in this period of presidential elections, Charles doesn’t want to think his own son is different.

September 1998. Victor and Serge are leading a quiet life as a couple. Victor has become a talented architect, and remains close to Aurélie, who is the single-mother of a baby to which he is godfather. On the face of it, everything is going fine. Yet the passion between Victor and Serge has gradually faded over time. The weight of the years has taken its toll on their sex life. Serge being HIV-positive does not help, and they have adopted an open relationship, each free to take other lovers. Despite their deep affection for each other, Victor and Serge eem to be drifting slowly apart.

January 2013. Victor is an accomplished architect. He never has much time for his son, Diego, a kid with a strong will who’s in his final year at high school. Serge is back living with Victor and Diego, and things are very clear; they each have their own room. Together, they form a kind of undefined blended family. When Diego is called in by the principal for fighting with his classmate, Paul, who made racist and homophobic comments, it is Serge who comes in to receive the lecture from the headmistress.