Bel Ami has a legion of devoted fans, and it's easy to see why. Many have tried to capture on film that sense of wicked innocence of which director George Duroy and crew are masters, only to fail miserably. "The English Student" (1999) is one such offering. Slapping a label on Duroy's models, calling them twinks, would be doing them a disservice. The talent that Duroy exploits are young princes, the kind of young men you rhapsodize about.
"The English Student" is a lovely vehicle for Julian Armanis; he hasn't looked fresher. Here, he is plays a college-aged pupil, determined to increase his English vocabulary. He actively combs the streets of Europe, crossing paths with other guys, also looking to improve their oral skills. Julian spies Nico Tiziani at a crowded outdoor volleyball tournament, coyly seducing him. The viewer knows the sex is coming but before we get there, we are treated to a short montage of Julian and Nico tossing a ball between them, creating a bond. This is where Duroy really shines, coyly seducing the viewer with cinematic foreplay, getting us hot even before the first hard dick makes an appearance.
From their horseplay, the scene fades into Julian crouching on his knees in a sunlit room, lavishing Nico's long, appealing cock, his own prick stiff as a board. One of the first things I noticed was how perfect their tan skin looked; the models muscled without being muscular. They switch positions, Nico greedily giving head. Nothing here is rushed and has a distinct lazy, summer afternoon feel about it. Even the fucking is tender. Julian keeps up the eye contact with his partner, gradually picking up the pace. As the soundtrack running underneath fades out, overridden by their panting, they both get off, coating each other in cum.
Julian's buddies are getting as much ass as he is. No wonder -- they have the same burgeoning approach to sex where everything is an exciting experiment. After an erotic prelude where Claude Cocteau and blond Simon Jacobi flirt and tease with ice cream, we join them in the bedroom where the flirting continues. Claude seats Simon on top of the headboard and fusses with his partner's incredibly big cock and bull balls. Just when I think I can't be surprised by another big cock, I find I'm wrong. Perhaps it's Simon's thin frame making his prick look colossal. Regardless, he's blessed with size and Claude takes advantage. It's all too much for Simon; he unpredictably sprays spunk all over Claude's shoulder.
But in a Duroy film, blowing a load doesn't mean an end to the sex play. Neither model is in a rush to get dressed and hurry out. Claude instead lays back and enjoys a blowjob, his six-pack rigid and tense. Simon's a bit of a tease, getting his buddy worked up enough to fuck him. They fuck intimately, one behind the other, kissing and cuddling as they make love. Claude keeps his eyes closed much of the time, his face cradled in one of Simon's palms. Ready to cum, Simon kneels over Claude and shoots thick volleys of cream. He then helps Claude to get off.
The next vignette pairs bad-boy Dano Sulik and humpy Karl Tenner. In the middle of giving head, even the urgent ringing of the telephone won't stop Dano. With Karl's piece is his mouth, he's on a mission to finish what he started. This is why Ma Bell created call-waiting. I've enjoyed both Dano and Karl in other films and it's nice to see them paired here. Perhaps the most erotic thing about watching Dano give head is how his dirty-blond hair partially conceals his face, brushing over Karl's lower belly. Karl stays seated on the couch, Dano facing the camera while he gets fucked. This is an excellent opportunity to check out Dano's physique, lean and handsome, his bush trimmed just so. Letting Karl do all the work, Dano is almost motionless, a calm coming over his face as he enjoys the ride. But even though he makes a sexy butt-boy, Dano really shines as a top. He puts Karl through the paces in some funky and unusual positions, the entire time pursing his lips in a sensual pout. And what a cum-shot! The camera pans in to get the luscious cream in close-up.
Julian is exploring the many meanings of the English word "reciprocity." To exemplify, we're treated some morning mischief between lovers Alexander Strauss and Andrej Volek. Chalk it up to hormones, but even the simple morning ritual of brushing your teeth becomes an excuse for these guys to wank. Andrej slyly watches Alexander hunkered over the bathroom sink and just can't help working himself into a lather. Andrej is yet another lucky lad, packing a hefty cock and balls. It takes a moment or two, but Alexander finally takes note, drops the toothbrush, and joins his buddy back in bed. What follows is a lovely and tender, albeit short, scene. Side by side, an achingly slow mutual jack-off tortures the viewer where both models eat each other up with their eyes before they ever lay a hand on one another. Midway through, each one reaches across his torso and grabs cock. Alexander is the first to cum, we get to enjoy Andrej's orgasm last.
Jacques Mellies may be the wild card in this pack of models, red-hot with a sexy spray of hair between his pecs. Just watching him do bicep curls with free weights was enough to make me see stars, and Simon Jacobi has a similar reaction. Simon's cruising the Internet with one eye (a shameless plug for the company's website) and checking out Jacques' weight training with the other. And with one look at Simon's monster prick, Jacques abandons the dumbbells and sinks to his knees. Jacques must give good head; Simon's fat nuts are starting to roll in their sack, so the pair switches gears and starts to fuck. We get to see tasty views of Jacques' hole, also covered in silky hair, hair which clings deliciously to the Simon's prick while he pounds ass. To look at Simon's boyish face, I'd never peg him for an aggressive top. But here, he's merciless -- firmly bending back Jacques' legs until his ankles are touching his ears. Simon seems to prefer it doggy-style, slamming his cock deep, eventually spraying spunk over the cheeks of Jacques' ass.
The finale begins with Julian's voiceover, the writers getting clever with the word "snowball." Here's another opportunity for more toothsome roughhousing before Julian and buddy Claude Cocteau hit the sheets. But before they get down to the nitty-gritty of fucking, Duroy crams them in a bathtub together, each one playfully splashing the other. They're frisky antics play like an erotic encounter cut from the same cloth as "Huckleberry Finn" -- well, "Huckleberry Finn" minus the cocksucking. Taking a breath, they begin to kiss. With the models facing one another, still soaking in suds, kissing leads to a hearty bout of mutual foot-suckin' and toe-lickin'. From the moans, groans, and gasps, cock tastes better than feet, each model sampling the other's prick. Then on the very same couch that Dano and Karl broke in, Claude spreads his legs and invites Julian to fuck him. Julian alternates rhythm, one minute jabbing, the next easing deep. And if Claude's open-mouthed expression is any hint, he's loving every second. If I hadn't blown my own load at this point (which I already did with Dano Sulik), I would have lost control watching lithe Julian unload over Claude.
"The English Student" is an excellent primer for the unschooled, the guys are hung and sensual, the plot threads through without taking away from the sex, and Duroy shows off his masterful use of sunlight, bathing his beauties in gold. You can turn off the sound, use American models and obscure the credits and I would still be able to spot the work of George Duroy. His films have an unmistakable pulse.
DVD features: Chapters; gallery; trailers; and no regional coding (playable worldwide).
A DVD Review by Rick Forrent