A Single Man - 2009

Fashion designer Tom Ford's directorial debut and financed by himself, this is a film with beautiful cinematography and an oscar worthy cast.

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 orientation; and Kenny Potter, one of his students, who seems to be curious about his professor beyond English class

A Man and a Woman - 1966

This film hit so close to home for me. A quiet, understated film that brings together two people from different backgrounds yet similar situations to find life in a new romance.

A man and a woman meet by accident on a Sunday evening at their childrens' boarding school. Slowly they reveal themselves to each other, finding that each is a widow/widower. Each is slow to reveal anything personal so that each revelation is hidden by a misperception. Much of the film is told wordlessly in action, or through hearing one of their thoughts as they go about their day.

Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film of 1967.

Favorite quotes; "It's crazy to refuse happiness."
"When a woman sends you a telegram, "I love you"......you go and see her."