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A Single Man (2009)

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3:45 | Trailer
An English professor, one year after the sudden death of his boyfriend, is unable to cope with his typical days in 1960s Los Angeles.

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(novel), (written for the screen by) | 1 more credit »
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709 ( 161)
Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 34 wins & 51 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Jim
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Mrs. Strunk
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Paul Butler ...
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Aline Weber ...
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Other Secretary #1
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Other Secretary #2
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Storyline

It's November 30, 1962. Native Brit George Falconer, an English professor at a Los Angeles area college, is finding it difficult to cope with life. Jim, his personal partner of sixteen years, died in a car accident eight months earlier when he was visiting with family. Jim's family were not going to tell George of the death or accident, let alone allow him to attend the funeral. This day, George has decided to get his affairs in order before he will commit suicide that evening. As he routinely and fastidiously prepares for the suicide and post suicide, George reminisces about his life with Jim. But George spends this day with various people, who see a man sadder than usual and who affect his own thoughts about what he is going to do. Those people include Carlos, a Spanish immigrant/aspiring actor/gigolo recently arrived in Los Angeles; Charley, his best friend who he knew from England, she who is a drama queen of a woman who romantically desires her best friend despite his sexual ... Written by Huggo

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Genres:

Drama | Romance

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some disturbing images and nudity/sexual content | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

17 December 2009 (Israel)  »

Also Known As:

Samac  »

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$217,332 (USA) (11 December 2009)

Gross:

$9,166,863 (USA) (16 April 2010)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

On the couch, Jim reads 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' by Truman Capote. Lee Pace appeared in Infamous (2006), which chronicles Capote's life during the writing of In Cold Blood. See more »

Goofs

The aria "Ebben Ne andro lontana" from Catalani's opera La Wally is used in the film. Naxos released the recording in 1992. Singer Miriam Gauci was born in 1957, which would make her 5 years old at the time of the movie. See more »

Quotes

Carlos: No one has ever picked me up and not wanted something.
George: I think you picked me up. This is kind of a serious day for me.
Carlos: Come on. What could be so serious for a guy like you?
George: I'm just trying to get over an old love I guess.
Carlos: My mother says that lovers are like buses. You just have to wait a little while and another one comes along.
See more »

Connections

Featured in Live from Studio Five: Episode #1.109 (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

Stormy Weather
(1933)
Written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler
Performed by Etta James
Courtesy of Geffen Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises
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Frequently Asked Questions

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User Reviews

 
A Single Man In Venice
16 September 2009 | by (Italy) – See all my reviews

Of all the films I saw at the 66 Venice Film Festival, 12 in all, "A Single Man" is the one that stayed with me. I must admit, it wasn't love at first sight. My first reaction was a sort of rebellion against, what I felt was "far too beautiful" and slightly cold. But now, days after, the mood and guts of the film come back to my mind as if asking me to see it again. I will, as soon as possible. Behind the apparent stillness of the film there is a torrent of emotions and Colin Firth is at the very center of it. A day of grieving for a man who lived his life within a perfectly color coordinated world, coordinated in every sense of the word until death comes unexpectedly to turn everything upside down. I couldn't help but remember another Firth creation "Apartment Zero" (1988) where the color coordination of that character was gray, zero and the hinting of color coming into his life turned his world upside down. I loved and adored that performance and "A Single Man" reminds me, not so much for its similarities but for its differences. It's actually forcing me to go out and search all of Colin Firth's work I've missed. I also believe that Tom Ford, a living fashion icon, is here to stay as a filmmaker.


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