Giovanni's Room

In the present of the 1950s, David reflects on his youth and the events that led to his expatriation. In his rented house in the South of France, he drinks and awaits his ex-lover Giovanni’s execution. His ex-fiancée, Hella, recently returned to America after breaking off their relationship; she had been away in Spain to consider his proposal, but while she was gone, David began an affair with Giovanni. These relationships changed David’s outlook on life and love, and he wants to repent for the secrecy of his past. David feels tired of running from the truth about himself, which only leads him to the same conclusions wherever he goes.

David’s first sexual encounter with a boy occurred in his teenage years with Joey, his best friend. David stayed with Joey for a weekend in Brooklyn, where he awoke to new feelings of desire for the boy. One night, the boys’ playful joking turned to awkward intimacy. They kissed and had sex, but when David woke in the morning, he felt shame for his actions and feared what others would think of him. He left Joey and didn’t see him again that summer.