Keep the Lights On
| Keep the Lights On | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
|
|
| Directed by | Ira Sachs |
| Produced by |
Marie Therese Guirgis Lucas Joaquin Ira Sachs |
| Screenplay by |
Ira Sachs Mauricio Zacharias |
| Starring |
Thure Lindhardt Zachary Booth Julianne Nicholson Souleymane Sy Savane Paprika Steen |
| Distributed by | Music Box Films |
|
Release date
|
|
|
Running time
|
101 minutes |
| Country | United States |
Keep the Lights On is an American drama film, which premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and was released in New York City and Los Angeles on September 7, 2012 by Music Box Films. Directed by Ira Sachs, and written by Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias, the film stars Thure Lindhardt as Erik, a Danish filmmaker living in New York City to work on a documentary film about artist Avery Willard; while there, he enters into a loving but complicated long-term relationship with Paul (Zachary Booth), a lawyer in the publishing industry who struggles with drug addiction. The film's cast also includes David Anzuelo, Maria Dizzia, Julianne Nicholson, Souléymane Sy Savané, Miguel Del Toro and Paprika Steen.
The film is based on Sachs' own past relationship with Bill Clegg, a literary agent who published his own memoir about his struggles with addiction, Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man, in 2010.
In 1998, Erik (Thure Lindhardt), a Danish artist living in New York City, meets Paul (Zachary Booth), a lawyer, through a phone sex hotline. Clearly attracted to each other, they share an intimate moment and have sex. Erik later visits a man named Russ (Sebastian La Cause) who seems more interested in showing off his muscles to Erik than having sex. Erik sees Paul again, and tells him about how he broke up with his ex-boyfriend Paolo, who was HIV-positive. Erik confides to his friend Claire (Julianne Nicholson) on how he is happier now with Paul than he was with Paolo. Meanwhile, Paul asks Erik to keep quiet about his drug use and gets Erik high. Paul, who was closeted before meeting Erik, sees his ex-girlfriend while visiting an art gallery with Erik, who tries to persuade Paul to introduce him to her. While away from the city, Erik calls his doctor for some test results and learns that he is HIV-negative. Later, Paul throws a surprise birthday party for Erik.
...
Wikipedia