Directed by Onur Bilgetay, A True Gentleman is a Turkish romantic drama that was released recently on Netflix. Starring Çagatay Ulusoy, Ebru Sahin, and others, the movie is about a charming male escort, Saygin, who loses his mother at a young age, which forces him and his brother to fend for themselves.
Longing for comfort and wealth, he establishes himself in the male escort business but loses focus when he falls in love. This forces him to confront his trauma and choose what he wants and desires. The movie presents themes of transactional relationships, personal trauma, and existential crises.
Viewers who liked A True Gentleman for its exploration of pr*stitution and how it impacts one’s life can check the list below which has other similarly themed movies.
Leaving Las Vegas, American Gigolo, and other movies like A True Gentleman
1) Our Paradise - Amazon Video
Directed by Gaël Morel, Our Paradise is a French film starring Stéphane Rideau. The movie is about an aging male escort, Vassili, who is dejected about his age hampering his profession. He finds a young male escort who does not remember anything else and takes him under his wing.
As they begin a relationship, Vassili feels increasingly insecure about his appearance and begins committing crimes. The movie is a dark drama set in the heart of Paris. Like A True Gentleman, the movie’s protagonist is a male escort. Even though Our Paradise’s tone is more sinister, it also deals with trauma like Bilgetay's film.
2) American Gigolo - Amazon Prime Video
The neo-noir crime drama American Gigolo is directed by Paul Schrader and stars Richard Gere. The movie revolves around a male s*x worker, Julian Kay (Gere), who only deals with upper-class women. Arrogant and snobbish, Kay’s life turns upside down when he becomes the prime suspect in a murder case and is betrayed by his closest.
The movie also focuses on his illicit affair with a politician’s wife. The film was successful and brought Gere into the limelight. Like A True Gentleman, the movie is about a male escort and is stylishly made. Though American Gigolo is more of a thriller, it is a compelling movie.
3) Leaving Las Vegas - Amazon Prime Video
Starring Nicolas Cage and directed by Mike Figgis, Leaving Las Vegas is a drama based on a novel by John O'Brien. The movie is about an alcoholic Hollywood screenwriter, Ben Sanderson (Cage), who has lost his family and job. Depressed, he decides to head to Las Vegas and drink himself to death. He stumbles upon a pr*stitute, Sera, whose pimp has ended things with her.
Ben decides to pay Sera, but only to listen to his problems. The two develop a rapport and decide to never ask each other about Ben’s drinking and Sera’s job. Cage won an Academy Award for his performance in the poignant film. Like A True Gentleman, the movie involves themes of pr*stitution. The protagonists of both movies deal with personal traumas.
4) My Own Private Idaho - Amazon Prime Video
An independent adventure drama, My Own Private Idaho, is directed by Gus Van Sant and stars Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix. The movie is based on Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV Part 2, and Henry V. It revolves around two friends, Mike and Scott (Phoenix and Reeves, respectively), out of whom Mike is a street hustler who suffers a narcoleptic episode.
He and Scott go to Portland and onward to Italy to find his mother. While he doesn't find his mother, Mike shares his feelings for Scott. The movie is a cult classic in queer and independent cinema and was praised for its avant-garde style. While the movie’s premise is different than A True Gentleman, the male protagonists are street hustlers who often pr*stitute themselves.
5) Fallacy - Amazon Video
Directed and written by Martin Jablonski, Fallacy is a German thriller starring Torben Karstens, Gerhard Mohr, and Katalyn Bohn. The movie revolves around David, who is a loving family person and a renowned lawyer. But there is another side to his pristine image. Lured by money, he begins to work as a male escort and soon finds himself amidst a political intrigue.
Like A True Gentleman, the movie Fallacy is about a protagonist who dabbles in male pr*stitution. Though Fallacy has a more serious tone, it makes for a great movie option for those who liked A True Gentleman. Both movies highlight the complexities of such a profession.
6) A French Gigolo - Amazon Video
Also known as Cliente, A French Gigolo is a French comedy drama directed by Josiane Balasko and starring Nathalie Baye, Éric Caravaca, and others. The movie revolves around a male pr*stitute who hides his job from his wife. But his wife soon finds out the truth and decides to catch him red-handed.
Offended at first, she soon decides to allow her husband to carry on with his job as it helps to pay the bills. But Patrick meets a client, Judith, for whom he develops complicated feelings. Like A True Gentleman, the movie has a humorous tone.
7) The Girlfriend Experience - Amazon Video
Directed by Steven Soderbergh, The Girlfriend Experience is a drama starring Sasha Grey. The movie follows Chelsea (Sasha), a high-end escort in New York City who juggles her work and relationships. She is known for specializing in offering emotional support to her clients.
Set in the days leading up to the 2008 presidential elections and the Great Recession, the movie sets itself as a commentary where Chelsea meets her clients, who are perturbed by the economic and political affairs and less interested in her services. In the movie, she is also interviewed by a journalist, who asks her about her life and work. The movie received mixed reviews, but like A True Gentleman, it revolves around escorts.
Viewers can go through the list and choose a movie of their liking. They can also check out the 2022 film Good luck to you, Leo Grande, which features similar themes.