Introduction:
Love Lost is a short queer drama that intertwines themes of identity, intimacy, and family longing. It follows João, a young Afro-Portuguese sex worker who infiltrates a men’s bordello in London in hopes of reconnecting with Mr. Warren, a recurring guest with whom he shares an unusual bond. The story explores the tension between connection and isolation within spaces that both liberate and confine.
Inspiration:
The idea for Love Lost grew out of my fascination with questions of identity and belonging.
As a queer filmmaker and immigrant, I am drawn to stories that reflect both my own lived experiences and the complexity of our multicultural world. At its heart, the film is a family drama—one that uses João’s search for a father figure to mirror a universal longing for parental connection. I was particularly inspired by a real-life, historic men’s brothel that’s still active in London’s Earls Court. It was both a haven for gay men to explore their sexuality and, paradoxically, a place marked by loneliness. I wanted to capture how intimacy in such spaces is shaped—and sometimes undermined—by the transactional nature of connection.
Love Lost became my way of exploring connection, family, and the grey areas of human relationships.
The Process:
Love Lost was shot in London with a tight, mostly self-funded budget. As a first-time director, I’m profoundly grateful for the small, dedicated team who lifted me up at every stage.
Light and colour played a crucial role in shaping João’s emotional journey through the bordello: as he pursues Mr. Warren, he moves from cooler, more detached spaces bathed in blues and greens into warmer, more intimate environments glowing with yellows, reds, and oranges. This gradual shift in palette mirrors his emotional arc, reflecting how his search for connection transforms the way he inhabits the space. Capturing this atmosphere required careful planning and creativity from both our production design and cinematography teams. One of the toughest challenges was making the set feel both lived-in and seedy, while still believable as a place that could attract high-profile clientele—a contradiction that mirrors the reality of such establishments.
The process was deeply collaborative, with every department—from design to sound to intimacy coordination—helping create a space that felt authentic and emotionally resonant. Looking back, I feel incredibly fortunate that our passionate crew came together to bring this story to life. It stands as a testament to what human touch and dedication can achieve.
What It Means to Be a Finalist:
Being a finalist at the Worcester Film Festival is a real honour, and I’m deeply grateful to the selection panel for including Love Lost in such a strong and inspiring programme. As a debut director, it’s very encouraging to see this story resonate with film festivals and audiences, and I feel privileged to be in the company of so many talented filmmakers.
Where to Watch / Follow:
Love Lost will screen at Worcester Film Festival on September 25th and Hidden Film Festival on October 3rd. It’s also available worldwide on Amazon Prime within the short-film collection The Male Gaze: Secrets and Lies.
For all Love Lost and future projects news, follow @lovelost_shortfilm or @pablopsaura on Instagram
