you need to read " portrait of an addict as a young man " by Bill Clegg

It seems many reviewers didnt get the fact that this is an autobiographical story from the point of view of the director, who was the character " Erik " in real life.
Paul in real life was Bill Clegg.
Bill clegg , the crackhead, wrote the same story but from his point of view in his autobiographical book : " portrait of an addict as a young man". In the book version Erik is called Noah , and he his in real life : Ira Sachs , the wirter/director of this film.

So you really need to have read the book to know the point of view of PAul, where he was when Erik try to call and he doesnt answer, what Paul was thinking about Erik and all.
I think its the first time in my life I see a "love" story, told by one lover on screen and by the other one on a book.
Some scene are told by both lovers: when Paul is on loose doing it and Erik meet him in his room, and then an escort boy comes and do him in front of Erik.

Now I have to admit I wouldn't have like much this movies if I hadn't read the other part of the story in the book first.
I read some people thought it was about gay but not drugs.. if you had just do basic research you would have understand this is the counterpart of a book about addiction not about gay stuff .