A Single Man

A Single Man is easily one of the best films of recent years. Based on the novel by Christopher Isherwood, the film follows one day in the life of George Falconer (Colin Firth), a gay British University lecturer living in California. Colin Firth’s performance earned him a BAFTA for best actor.

The day is the one that George has decided to kill himself and he is tidying up his affairs. His male partner has died recently in a car accident and George is left understandably devastated. His partner's family deny him his right to attend the funeral and so grieve for his partner properly.

The film is set in 1962 and the Cuban missile crisis being at its height provides a suitable backdrop for someone contemplating if there is any point in carrying on. Julianne Moore plays his gin-soaked, ex-pat best friend.

The film is directed by Tom Ford, the ex-Creative Director of Gucci, and is a real visual treat. Many viewers find the beauty of the film distracting and unnecessary; however, it brings realism to the times and sets up the characters to be more believable.