Me, Myself and Mum 2013

Childhood under a dismissive mother

Guillaume grows up with a mother who dismisses his more effeminate moments. He senses a deep longing to belong and be accepted for who he is. This early dynamic plants the seeds for his later search for identity.

Sent to La Línea de la Concepción to learn Spanish

His mother sends him to La Línea de la Concepción to learn Spanish, where he stays with Paqui, a Spanish woman who cannot speak French. They navigate a language barrier, and Paqui becomes a bridge between cultures by introducing him to sevillanas. He trains in dance for a local chance to perform.

Performing sevillanas at a local festival

Paqui teaches him the Sevillanas, and he grows proficient enough to perform at a local festival. The crowd's laughter leaves him puzzled about why he is the butt of the joke. The moment reveals how others perceive his self-expression.

Pilar's rejection and self-reflection

He asks a woman named Pilar to dance; she declines, saying his dancing resembles that of a girl. This rejection forces him to confront how femininity is read by others. He privately wonders whether his appearance would delight his mother.

Imitating his mother's voice

Guillaume imitates his mother's voice for the family cook and Babou, revealing a longing for acceptance and belonging. The impersonations show him seeking maternal validation even as family tensions mount. This play-acting underscores his struggle to understand where he fits.

Caught as Sissi; sent to all-boys boarding school

His father catches him pretending to be Sissi, triggering a consequence. He is sent away to an all-boys boarding school where taunts and rigid codes of masculinity confront him daily. The environment intensifies his sense of otherness.

Plea for understanding and transfer to England

Guillaume pleads with his father for understanding, hoping for a gentler path. A psychiatric assessment follows, and the family decides to transfer him to an English boarding school in the hope of a fresh start. The shift marks a turning point toward a different social environment.

English boarding school relief and first crush

At the English boarding school, Guillaume finds relief in a setting where his worth isn't measured by masculinity alone. He develops a tender attraction to a schoolmate, Jérémy, even if the feelings are complicated. The environment offers a sense of belonging he hadn't felt before.

Jérémy's relationship with a girl and awakening

Guillaume's crush on Jérémy is tested when he learns that Jérémy is intimate with a girl. The disappointment compounds his self-understanding and pushes him to reflect on his desires. The moment acts as a catalyst for his sexual awakening.

Mother's comfort reveals his sexuality

His mother offers comfort, but she unintentionally reveals that he is homosexual. The realization shakes Guillaume and reframes his self-identity. It marks a crucial turning point in his personal journey.

Exemption from national service and psychotherapy begins

The revelation leads to an exemption from national service as he navigates his fragile state. He begins psychotherapy, receiving guidance to understand and map his desires. This marks the start of a long inner process.

Bavarian spa visit and therapeutic treatments

He travels to a Bavarian spa seeking relief, enduring a strenuous sports massage by Raymund and an unexpected colonic by Ingeborg. An aunt offers guidance by nudging him to test boundaries as a way to map his desires. He remains uncertain about what sex and affection truly mean.

Nightlife and initial encounters

In a nightclub, he meets Karim; at Karim's flat, two other men await a group encounter, and Guillaume panics and escapes when he realizes he is not Arab. A second attempt with another man triggers further panic and withdrawal. The scenes reveal his ongoing discomfort with intimate encounters and self-acceptance.