Love Is Strange

placeholder

When same-sex marriage is legalised in New York in 2011, Ben and George decide to marry after 39 years together. Shortly after this, George, who works as a music teacher at a Catholic school, is dismissed without notice and they lose their apartment in Chelsea. George finds a place to stay with a gay couple who are both police officers and Ben is taken in by his nephew’s family in Brooklyn. Strained efforts to be considerate, nagging ill humour, encroachment on private spaces and burgeoning anxiety about the future put a constant strain on the friendships in these new living arrangements. Impressively, almost nonchalantly, director Ira Sachs and his stellar ensemble turn a story about loss of livelihood in the wake of homophobia into a sensitive study of partnerships. Alfred Molina and John Lithgow embody the deep bond between George and Ben with a touchingly tender light-heartedness, giving us a couple that counters a stolid, opinionated hegemony with disarming confidence, and who enchant each other and us with their love.

details

  • Runtime

    98' min
  • Country

    United States
  • Year of Presentation

    2014
  • Year of Production

    2014
  • Director

    Ira Sachs
  • Cast

    John Lithgow, John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei, Charlie Tahan, Cheyenne Jackson
  • Production Company

    Parts And Labour
  • Berlinale Section

    Panorama
  • Berlinale Category

    Feature Film

Biography Ira Sachs

Born in Memphis, USA in 1965, Sachs’ work has already screened in the Berlinale Panorama section in 2005 with FORTY SHADES OF BLUE, in 2010 with LAST ADDRESS and in 2012 with KEEP THE LIGHTS ON which won the Teddy Award. In 2013 he was a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Filmography Ira Sachs

1992 Vaudeville | 1994 Lady | 1997 The Delta | 2000 10/26/00 | 2002 Untitled | 2002 Get it while you can | 2005 Forty Shades of Blue | 2007 Married Life | 2019 Frankie