A Single Man

Colour, 35 mm
USA, 2009, 101 min
Section: Horizons

Synopsis

Los Angeles, 1962. The Cuban missile crisis is at its height, but British college professor George Falconer is focused solely on the past. The lonely man is trying to come to terms with the recent death of his long-term partner Jim. He refuses to answer the phone, communicating only with his closest friend, the elegant Charley who tries to help him – as she has so often before – find the energy to carry on. At the same time he’s trying to avoid his student Kenny who feels him to be a kindred spirit. George continually asks the question, both desperate and ironic, whether his life still makes any sense. How will the day end which he has designated as the last in his life? For his feature debut, Tom Ford elected to adapt Christopher Isherwood’s 1964 novel, one of the first literary works to openly fight for gay rights. For his acting performance, Colin Firth won a BAFTA, the Best Actor Volpi Cup at the Venice IFF, and an Oscar nomination. The film also took the Queer Lion at Venice for Best Movie with LGBT Themes & Queer Culture.

About the director

Tom Ford (b. 1961, Austin, Texas) studied art history at New York University, but soon went on to act in television commercials. He then studied interior architecture at Parsons The New School for Design but never abandoned his interest in fashion, focusing on European design while working in Paris for Chloé fashion design company. In 1990 he got a position with Gucci, helping it weather a serious crisis and working his way up to successful creative director (1994-2000). He also held a similar position at Yves Saint Laurent. In 2005 he founded his own eponymous brand, creating fashions preferred by numerous Hollywood stars (e.g. Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Pierce Brosnan), including Daniel Craig as 007 in the Bond vehicle Quantum of Solace (2008). That same year he founded Fade to Black, which produced his feature debut A Single Man.