A Single Man
dir. Tom Ford · 2009
Plot
It's November 30, 1962. Native Brit George Falconer, an English professor at a Los Angeles area college, is finding it difficult to cope with life. Jim, his personal partner of sixteen years, died in a car accident eight months earlier when he was visiting with family. Jim's family were not going to tell George of the death or accident, let alone allow him to attend the funeral. This day, George has decided to get his affairs in order before he will commit suicide that evening. As he routinely and fastidiously prepares for the suicide and post suicide, George reminisces about his life with Jim. But George spends this day with various people, who see a man sadder than usual and who affect his own thoughts about what he is going to do. Those people include Carlos, a Spanish immigrant/aspiring actor/gigolo recently arrived in Los Angeles; Charley, his best friend who he knew from England, she who is a drama queen of a woman who romantically desires her best friend despite his sexual orientation; and Kenny Potter, one of his students, who seems to be curious about his professor beyond English class.
Why watch
"A Single Man" is a poignant exploration of love and loss, capturing a single day in the life of a grieving professor as he navigates the delicate balance between despair and fleeting moments of connection. With its lush visuals and contemplative narrative, this film invites viewers to reflect on the profound impact of love and the haunting echoes of what remains.
Talking points
- the portrayal of grief in cinema
- the complexities of love and loss
- societal attitudes towards homosexuality in the 1960s
- the role of memory in shaping identity