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Erotic Thriller Explores Racism and Inequality in Privileged Household
6 Sep
Summary
- Two young women, one Black and one white, form a bond
- Trying to unravel the secret history of a stately manor house
- Director blends feminist drama, psychological thriller, and horror elements

In the upcoming film "Steal Away," director Clement Virgo explores the complex themes of racism and inequality through the lens of a psychological thriller. The story follows two young women - Cécile, a young African refugee, and Fanny, a sheltered woman from a privileged household - as they form an unlikely bond while investigating the secret history of Fanny's stately manor home.
Inspired by Ingmar Bergman's "Persona" and David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive," Virgo's film plunges the two lead characters into a sexual tug-of-war, foregrounding the erotically charged theme of female empowerment. As Cécile falls in love with the gardener's son, Rufus, it ignites Fanny's jealousy and her own sexual awakening.
Virgo, known for his previous films "Rude" and "Brother," blends elements of feminist drama, psychological thriller, and even horror to create a compelling and thought-provoking narrative. The director aims to speak about the history of racism and inequality without being overt, using the film as an allegory about the past, present, and future.