Film Review – Love Is Strange (2014)

George (Alfred Molina; Chocolat, Spiderman 2) and Ben (John Lithgow; Interstellar, Rise of the Planet of the Apes) are a gay couple who’ve been together for nearly 40 years. To celebrate their years together they finally get married, but their bliss is short lived. Soon afterwards, when word reaches the archdiocese, George is fired from his job as a music teacher at a catholic school. As a result the couple must sell their apartment and are divided up between family and friends. Ben moving in with his nephew (Darren Burrows; Northern Exposure, Cry-Baby), wife (Marisa Tomei; The Rewrite, Crazy, Stupid, Love) and son (Charlie Tahan; Blue Jasmine, I am Legend) and George moves in with partying cop neighbours (Cheyenne Jackson; Behind The Candelabra, Price Check and Manny Perez; Bella, Washington Heights). The film sees them navigate pokey New York apartments and their time apart.

It’s unclear sometimes what this film is meant to be, everyone seems to be far too accepting of the archdiocese for firing George. In some ways it seemed more of an advertisement of the reality of pokey real estate options in the city, rather than a comment on the treatment of gay marriage by the catholic church. I guess I would have personally preferred to see the couple at least try to sue for wrong dismissal. I saw the couple’s attitude at their predicament as being so defeatist and there was an air of hopelessness in the whole situation that I desperately wanted them to lift out of.

I was also never entirely convinced that a couple who’ve been together for 40 years and are totally in love would choose to live separately at that point of time in their lives. They are given the option of moving together to upstate New York together for a little while, which sounds quite appealing to me.   But though far fetched, the idea of a 71 year old man sharing a bunk bed with his teenage nephew makes more of a comedic predicament.

The title is also confusing, George and Ben’s relationship is rather sweet and tender, there’s nothing strange about it. It almost feels like they titled the film for people who aren’t going to watch the movie.

Both Lithgow and Molina do well in their roles in portraying a sweet and loving couple. They are out-shone by Marisa Tomei, who as ever puts in a passionate and understated performance and the scenes between her and Lithgow are very memorable.

The film is funny and sweet and does an important job of highlighting that even though gay marriage is possible, there are still unfortunately obstacles to navigate. I just wish George and Ben had more fight in them.

★★★

Alice Hubley

Genre: Drama Distributor:Altitude Film Distribution Release Date: 6th February 2015 (London) 13th February (rest of UK) Rating:15 Running Time: 94 mins Director: Ira Sachs Cast: John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei