Noah challenges Benjamin by asking him to return with him to Paris. After the show, he tells Noah that he's made a mistake, confessing that what is scarier than being incapable of love is the fact that he in fact loves Noah. Upon seeing Stephen, caught up in relief and lingering heartbreak, Benjamin bursts into tears and realizes that he needs to see Noah.īenjamin runs to Noah's gig and is moved to tears by Noah's heartbreaking performance, with lyrics that seem to be about him. The next day, with his calls still going to voicemail, Benjamin gets worried and goes to Stephen's house, breaking his window. Now thoroughly alone, Benjamin repeatedly tries to call his friend Stephen. Upset, Benjamin later consumes magic mushrooms and becomes deeply inebriated. Despite Noah's attempts to reassure him, Benjamin winds up pushing him away. Tensions remain high after the dinner, with Benjamin embarrassed and anxious that he will wind up hurting Noah as he did Paul. Later, Paul argues that Benjamin is repeating old patterns and remains incapable of love.
When Benjamin calls him over, Paul publicly confronts him about his recent film, which was partly inspired by their relationship. Benjamin accepts.īenjamin is having dinner with Noah's parents when his ex-boyfriend, Paul, enters the restaurant. At one point, when Benjamin seems anxious, Noah silently stares into Benjamin's eyes to calm him down, before formally asking Benjamin to be his boyfriend. Still missing Noah, Benjamin seeks him out and asks if they might continue seeing each other, without formally labeling it a relationship. The two sleep together, but Harry later clarifies that it was a one-time experiment. Harry expresses interest in writing a film with Benjamin, but when Benjamin agrees, Harry propositions him instead. The two argue frequently and have cheated on each other multiple times. After the screening, Noah breaks up with Benjamin, saying he is not ready for a relationship.Ī heartbroken Benjamin meets up with his reporter friend Billie and her sometimes-boyfriend Harry-the same actor who played Benjamin's boyfriend in his film. While the rest of the film is well-received, these extended scenes are panned by the audience and critics alike. Benjamin later joins Noah and his bandmates for dinner and the two begin a burgeoning romance, spending the night and the following day together.Īs Benjamin's film premiere approaches, he panics and insists that his producer reinsert a controversial set of scenes into the film, of a Buddhist monk discussing the idea of self. Despite his producer Tessa's reassurances to the contrary, Benjamin is deeply anxious about the film, contending with fear of judgment and cripplingly low self-esteem.Īt a reporter friend's invitation, Benjamin and his best friend Stephen attend a party where Benjamin meets and promptly becomes captivated by a French singer onstage, Noah.
Benjamin, a rising young filmmaker struggling to replicate his early success, previews his newest film: a romantic drama about his character's doomed relationship with his boyfriend and inability to love.