Love is Strange
John Lithgow and Alfred Molina lead this New York drama as a newlywed couple facing sudden economic hardship. Co-stars Marisa Tomei.
After 39 years together, Ben (Lithgow) and George (Molina) take advantage of the new marriage laws and tie the knot in a City Hall wedding in lower Manhattan. On the return from their honeymoon, however, and on account of their vows, Ben gets fired from his long-time job as a choir director for a co-ed Catholic school. Suddenly, with no real savings to count on, the couple can’t afford the rent on their small Chelsea apartment.
Deciding to temporarily live apart until they can find an affordable new home, George moves in with two cops who live downstairs while Ben lands in Brooklyn with his family. While struggling with living apart, Ben and George are further challenged by the intergenerational tensions and capricious family dynamics of their new living arrangements.
- Director:
- Ira Sachs ('Keep the Lights On', 'Married Life', 'Forty Shades of Blue')
- Writer:
- Ira SachsMauricio Zacharias
- Cast:
- Alfred MolinaJohn LithgowMarisa TomeiCheyenne JacksonCharlie TahanChristian Coulson
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Matt Glasby
flicksIt's hard to picture a more charming screen couple than John Lithgow and Alfred Molina. Who wouldn't want to spend 90 minutes in their company? Besides this casting coup, and the (presumably substantial) difficulties of financing a film about elderly gay men, Ira Sach's genteel effort must be considered a missed opportunity, maybe worse.
Languorous, unpretentious and gentle.
Married! After thirty-nine years together , George and Ben formalize their union. Around them New York friends and family are enthusiastic , both for the longevity of their story and for the legal happy ending. But this displayed happiness costs George his job: discreet homosexuality is fine, but marriage isn't, as explained by the Catholic school...
love with scenery
Part of the experience of a movie, especially one about relationship, is being a voyeur. You can be a comfortable voyuer or an uncomfortable one. Something about the welcoming introduction of tis movie makes you the viewer feel very welcome. While I guess people will call it a gay movie its so much more than that as the actors around the main characters...
Variety
pressBeautifully observed ensembler shines on the strength of its two leads, John Lithgow and Alfred Molina.
Time Out
pressIt's an essential-and essentially New York-story about limited room, limited time but incalculable attachment.
The New York Times
pressThe story of George and Ben seems to have been plucked from a meadow of narrative possibilities; an interesting movie could have been made about everybody in this one.
The Guardian
pressOne of those quiet movies that sneaks up and punches you in the face, just as you were thinking "What does any of this add up to?"
The Dissolve
pressFinds the drama in any moment without pushing too hard, and uses small details to bring relationships into focus.
Hollywood Reporter
pressA sprawling yet intimate narrative, constructed almost entirely of in-between moments rather than the big turning points and tragedies.
Flicks, Matt Glasby
flicksIt's hard to picture a more charming screen couple than John Lithgow and Alfred Molina. Who wouldn't want to spend 90 minutes in their company? Besides this casting coup, and the (presumably substantial) difficulties of financing a film about elderly gay men, Ira Sach's genteel effort must be considered a missed opportunity, maybe worse.
Variety
pressBeautifully observed ensembler shines on the strength of its two leads, John Lithgow and Alfred Molina.
Time Out
pressIt's an essential-and essentially New York-story about limited room, limited time but incalculable attachment.
The New York Times
pressThe story of George and Ben seems to have been plucked from a meadow of narrative possibilities; an interesting movie could have been made about everybody in this one.
The Guardian
pressOne of those quiet movies that sneaks up and punches you in the face, just as you were thinking "What does any of this add up to?"
The Dissolve
pressFinds the drama in any moment without pushing too hard, and uses small details to bring relationships into focus.
Hollywood Reporter
pressA sprawling yet intimate narrative, constructed almost entirely of in-between moments rather than the big turning points and tragedies.
Languorous, unpretentious and gentle.
Married! After thirty-nine years together , George and Ben formalize their union. Around them New York friends and family are enthusiastic , both for the longevity of their story and for the legal happy ending. But this displayed happiness costs George his job: discreet homosexuality is fine, but marriage isn't, as explained by the Catholic school...
love with scenery
Part of the experience of a movie, especially one about relationship, is being a voyeur. You can be a comfortable voyuer or an uncomfortable one. Something about the welcoming introduction of tis movie makes you the viewer feel very welcome. While I guess people will call it a gay movie its so much more than that as the actors around the main characters...
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