Keep The Lights On
Starring: Thure Lindhardt, Zachary Booth, Julianne Nicholson
Director: Ira Sachs
Rating: 3.5/5
Ira Sachs is back in the director's chair with his new movie Keep The Lights On - which screened at the BFI London Film Festival earlier this week.
Keep the Lights On chronicles an emotionally and sexually charged journey of two men in New York City through love, friendship, and addiction.
Documentary filmmaker Erik (Lindhardt) and closeted lawyer Paul (Booth) meet through a casual encounter, but soon find a deeper connection and become a couple. Individually and together, they are risk takers - compulsive, and fuelled by drugs and sex.
In an almost decade-long relationship defined by highs, lows, and dysfunctional patterns, Erik struggles to negotiate his own boundaries and dignity while being true to himself.
Keep The Light On is a heartbreaking love story that looks at the complexities of relationships as well as the destructive nature of drug addiction.
The story my be set between a gay couple but it has universal themes that almost everyone can relate to.
Ira Sachs has delivered a character drama that is emotional and truly heart-wrenching as both men struggle with their addiction; Paul is addicted to drugs while Erik is addicted to trying to make Paul better and their lives start to spiral out of control.
The movie is driven by two great central performances by Thure Lindhardt anf Zachary Booth as they are both incredibly raw.
There is a real connection between the two actors that feel so genuine and free of all the cliches that usually come along with it that you find yourself rooting for both of them to succeed and achieve what they want to achieve.
Erik is a man who is desperate for love and to be loved but perhaps he is not to fond of the idea of commitment.
And while he stands by Paul to try and help him through his trouble he is a character in denial about the type of relationship that he can have with an addict.
Paul is wrestling with his demons for the majority of his film and while he no doubt loves Erik deep down there is an even greater love in his life and that is drugs.
This his a harsh and gritty look at relationships and how they, people and feeling alter over a decade.
Sachs has delivered a really engaging and touching movie - not to mention beautiful as he has captured New York in a way that makes it a character in this story.
Keep The Lights On is a movie that has many layers and is far more than you usual addiction drama as it is an emotional and quite haunting watch.
The BFI London Film Festival runs 10 - 21 October
Keep The Lights On is released 2nd November
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in BFI