It’s interesting to look at Alexander in light of the extensive comments on monogamy posted to the recent David Sedaris post, considering that this flawed film concerns a man for whom sex partners, both men and women, were plentiful yet served various purposes.
While not taking the film’s details as gospel it’s still possible to see that emotional fidelity and multiple partners were able to coexist peacefully in the mind of Alexander. Alexander retained an emotional fidelity to Hephaiston while keeping several wives, and making advances toward numerous male slaves and eunuchs.
“Hephaiston loves me as I am,” Alexander declares to his mother; “Fear not, Hephaiston, we are at the beginning,” Alexander tells his lover, meaning their lives together. At one point, Alexander and Hephaiston ride into Babylon side by side victorious, like king and queen. Later, Hephaiston massages Alexander’s shoulders; “It is you I love, Hephaiston,” Alexander declares. “You’ll never lose me. I’ll be with you always.” There’s plenty more where that came from.
I was shocked at the extent of the gay romance. No homosexual sex (though we do get a quick shot of Colin Farrell’s ass and piece from behind, between his legs), but the lack of man on man action didn’t bother me. What bothers me is that Stone had to ruin Alexander with such a conventionally monotonous execution and a $150 million budget that, had it not been so large, would have allowed the film to escape the colossal sense of failure that now plagues it.
P.S. — It’s nearly impossible to find a publicity photo of Alexander and Hephaiston together. Gee, I wonder why?