Love Is Strange (2014)
Cast includes: John Lithgow (3rd Rock from the Sun), Alfred Molina (An Education), Darren E. Burrows (Northern Exposure), Marisa Tomei (The Lincoln Lawyer), Charlie Tahan (Blue Jasmine)
Writer/director: Ira Sachs (Married Life, Keep the Lights On)
Genre: Drama | Humor (94 minutes)
The double bed looks too small for 2 grown men, but it’s what they’re used to. Today is going to be a glorious day. As Ben and George shower and dress, Chopin’s Op.57 is the soundtrack of their special day. Ben’s glasses aren’t lost after all, the lasagna looks perfect, and George remembers the papers… “We’re gathered here today for the purpose of uniting in matrimony George and Ben…” After 39 years, the couple is finally able to make it official. When family and friends come back to the apartment, Ben and George treat them to their rendition of “Baby, You’ve Got What It Takes.” Kate tells the touching story of how her husband Elliot proposed after taking her to meet his Uncle Ben and his companion of 20 years. In fact, the whole family is delighted to support Ben and George’s newly official relationship. And now it’s off to Petra for a long-overdue honeymoon.
Ben and George have been able to afford their more-or-less comfortable lifestyle by combining Ben’s pension with George’s salary from teaching music at a Catholic school. Maybe someday, Ben’s paintings will sell, but for now it’s mostly George who appreciates them. Back at work, Father Raymond reminds George that when he took the job with the diocese, he signed a paper saying he would live in accordance with Church teachings. “You’ve known for 12 years that Ben and I were living together,” says George. Apparently, the bishop now knows, too, thanks to the honeymoon pictures from Petra posted on Facebook. His dismissal is “effective immediately.” After some painful number crunching, the newlyweds realize the numbers just don’t add up. Ben and George hate to impose on family, but it’s only temporary. We see the family commitment literally melt as happy faces turn to long faces… but after some negotiation, Elliot and Kate can take in Uncle Ben, and George can sleep on a friend’s sofa. Ben will learn to make do sharing a bunk bed with his nephew, while George will learn to appreciate Game of Thrones. “Sometimes when you live with people, you know them better than you care to,” says Ben during a goodnight call with George.
If it weren’t for the warmth and chemistry that John Lithgow and Alfred Molina bring to the roles of Ben and George, the ordinariness of the story wouldn’t be as compelling. Writer/director Ira Sachs obviously wanted to show us a family and type of situation that could happen to anyone… gay or straight. But if he wants us to have a take-away message, he leaves it for us to discover. There’s nothing heavy-handed or obvious… it’s just a lovely story told with sensitivity, reserve and an excellent soundtrack with plenty of Chopin. And the entire cast is excellent. Even though the new living arrangements aren’t ideal and there are obvious problems, there aren’t any villains. It’s just a problem situation, and they’ll need to work through it. However, meeting during the day and catching up in phone cals at night isn’t the same as living together. “After 39 years, it’s hard to fall asleep without you.” And we find it’s easy to relate.
3 popped kernels
After 39 years in a committed relationship, Ben and George need to turn to family to help them get through financial difficulties
Popcorn Profile
Rated: R (Language, Sexual Content)
Audience: Grown-ups
Gender Style: Sensitive
Distribution: Art House
Mood: Sober
Tempo: In No Hurry
Visual Style: Nicely Varnished Realism Gorilla Video
Nutshell: Gay marriage and family
Language: True to life
Social Significance: Thought Provoking
