While the movie "A Single Man" directed by designer Tom Ford will likely not be shown in the areas of the country where it is perhaps the most needed, one can nonetheless hope that the movie may open at least some minds as to the common humanity of LGBT Americans and even provoke some thoughts and conversations about the inequity of denying same sex couple marriage rights - particularly those who have been in decades long relationships. Admitted, the goal of the Christianists and homophobes is to keep LGBT individuals viewed as "other" or even sub-human, but movies like this one as did Brokeback Mountain in a different sense may make it more difficult for our enemies to maintain the anti-gay stereotypes they work so hard to promote. As the immediately prior post discusses, the homophobes are in fact very sick people. Here are some highlights from a CNN commentary on the new movie:*
Ford's project is more than just a stylish and thought-provoking film about the crippling loneliness a gay man feels when his partner dies in a tragic accident. It is a timely conversation piece about same-sex rights.
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For the gay community the story of a closeted college professor mourning the death of his long-time lover reflects the history of the struggle to be open about homosexuality in the 1960s. The same struggle continues today as the gay community fights for equal rights and laws allowing same-sex marriage.
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"We're used to movies like 'Brokeback Mountain' that deal with the difficulties of being gay, but this is about the difficulties of being human viewed from the perspective of a gay man," said Aaron Hicklin, the editor-in-chief of Out, the highest-circulation gay monthly. "That's not as common as it should be. As we continue to make the case for full equality, movies like this help balance the negative and stereotypical views of homosexuality that are out there."
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In one pivotal scene in the film, George learns his long-time partner Jim, played by Matthew Goode, has died in a car crash and George is not invited to the funeral, which is limited to family only. Jim's family even keeps the couple's dog. George and Jim had been together for 16 years, but in 1962 such relationships were "invisible," which only makes the grieving process more difficult for George. "Though this movie is set in the 1960s, the same thing can potentially happen to gays and lesbians now," Conrad said.
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"Through Colin Firth's character we come to truly appreciate the tremendous power of love, and of redemption. I can't imagine anyone, whatever their sexual orientation, failing to connect with his humanity," Hicklin said. "The silence and the invisibility the film is portraying was in part why Americans didn't understand the need for freedom to marry when the first cases for the freedom to marry began by 1971," explains Evan Wolfson, the Executive Director of the organization Freedom to Marry and author of "Why Marriage Matters."
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"I think the film shows the price people pay for silence and it shows the common humanity and invites people to ask themselves: How would I feel if I couldn't acknowledge the love of my life?"
*
Ford's project is more than just a stylish and thought-provoking film about the crippling loneliness a gay man feels when his partner dies in a tragic accident. It is a timely conversation piece about same-sex rights.
*
For the gay community the story of a closeted college professor mourning the death of his long-time lover reflects the history of the struggle to be open about homosexuality in the 1960s. The same struggle continues today as the gay community fights for equal rights and laws allowing same-sex marriage.
*
"We're used to movies like 'Brokeback Mountain' that deal with the difficulties of being gay, but this is about the difficulties of being human viewed from the perspective of a gay man," said Aaron Hicklin, the editor-in-chief of Out, the highest-circulation gay monthly. "That's not as common as it should be. As we continue to make the case for full equality, movies like this help balance the negative and stereotypical views of homosexuality that are out there."
*
In one pivotal scene in the film, George learns his long-time partner Jim, played by Matthew Goode, has died in a car crash and George is not invited to the funeral, which is limited to family only. Jim's family even keeps the couple's dog. George and Jim had been together for 16 years, but in 1962 such relationships were "invisible," which only makes the grieving process more difficult for George. "Though this movie is set in the 1960s, the same thing can potentially happen to gays and lesbians now," Conrad said.
*
"Through Colin Firth's character we come to truly appreciate the tremendous power of love, and of redemption. I can't imagine anyone, whatever their sexual orientation, failing to connect with his humanity," Hicklin said. "The silence and the invisibility the film is portraying was in part why Americans didn't understand the need for freedom to marry when the first cases for the freedom to marry began by 1971," explains Evan Wolfson, the Executive Director of the organization Freedom to Marry and author of "Why Marriage Matters."
*
"I think the film shows the price people pay for silence and it shows the common humanity and invites people to ask themselves: How would I feel if I couldn't acknowledge the love of my life?"
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Sadly, situations like that depicted in the movie do still occur - as I know from the calls I receive from the survivors of same sex couples who are being suddenly treated as a stranger by their deceased partners family and are often thrown out of their own homes. It underscores the need for wills, trusts, and medical powers of attorney so that George's sad story does not repeat yet again.
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