An interracial love triangle with two white western women fighting for the affections of a black Haitian gigolo is the basis for ‘Heading South’, the award-winning feature given its Bermuda premiere last night.

A bleak portrait of those involved in the buying and selling of sex, it features an utterly convincing performance by Charlotte Rampling, playing Ellen, the self-elected leader of a group of ageing women who flock south in the 1970s for their annual summer sexual sojourn after months of abstinence in the cold north.

At first Ellen, in her mid-50s, is happy to patronise new arrival Brenda (Karen Young) who is obsessed by the memory of Legba, the young Haitian who gave her her very first orgasm — at age 45 — three years previously.

It’s when the women realise they are both after the same man that the sparks fly.

While Ellen initially seems the tougher of the two the insipid, wan Brenda puts up a dogged fight while Legba — like the good pro that he is — sweetly indulges both of them.

The fact that both women claim to know Legba but have no clue about his life beyond when he has to pay homage to their fragile egos proves telling as these seemingly intelligent women behave like forlorn, lovestruck teenagers.

Brenda is particularly disturbing and embarrassing, lurching from shy and frightened to supercharged stalker.

Meanwhile Haiti is falling apart under the murderous regime of “Baby Doc” Duvalier — not that the women have noticed much about their surroundings other than Ellen’s blithe remark that the island is like a dungheap after making it clear, once again, that she isn’t here for the scenery.

But neither of the female protagonists show much real insight despite their constant introspection as they project onto Legba various unlikely romantic scenarios.

By which time Legba is on the run from the hoods who run the country and beyond caring about the ebb and flow of their psychodramas.

The film winds towards a depressing but believable ending with Legba murdered along with his local girlfriend, who had also been dragged into the country’s booming prostitution business.

Meanwhile his white admirers coldly draw a veil over proceedings and depart with Brenda vowing to continue her explorations in sex tourism.

‘Heading South’ (Vers le Sud) won awards at Venice Film Festival for director Laurent Cantet and the male lead, Menothy Cesar. While Rampling’s portrayal of Ellen is powerful it is perhaps Karen Young’s portrayal of Brenda which gives the film its real edge, her portrayal of a neurotic, semi-paedophiliac divorcee is as disturbing as it is thought-provoking.

But thought provoking is what BIFF does and it is to be commended for yet another excellent choice for Bermuda’s film fans. Matthew Taylor