‘The masturbation scene wasn’t a big deal’: Théodore Pellerin on tackling his new film Nino’s challenges

Théodore Pellerin stars as Nino, a young Parisian diagnosed with HPV-related throat cancer, in the new French character study film "Nino." The film follows Nino's urgent quest to freeze his sperm before cancer treatment renders him infertile. Pellerin describes Nino's predicament as a dissociation from his body and emotions, exacerbated by the sexually transmitted nature of his cancer, which stunts his sexuality. The actor highlights Nino's dual mission: to speak and to ejaculate, emphasizing the difficulty of finding a suitable place to masturbate in Paris. Pellerin stated that the masturbation scene in the film "wasn't a big deal," suggesting a focus on the character's internal struggle and physical needs. The film's narrative is compared to the French New Wave classic "Cléo de 5 à 7," which also centered on a cancer diagnosis, but "Nino" offers a Gen Z perspective on the challenges of intimacy and bodily functions.