Of course, then again, the story of Lynyrd Skynyrd has its depressing moments (Look up information on Allen Collins' final years and try not to say, "Jeez, maybe Van Zant and the Gaines brothers got it easy when they were killed instantly in that plane crash"), just like this film's story about some gay man getting ready to off himself after his lover dies. Actually, speaking of gay people, allow me to take back my reference to "Simple Man" earlier, as I don't know if a southern rock song belongs anywhere in this film, seeing as how it takes place in 1960s California (Southern California, mind you, but California, nonetheless), and is so gay that it is by a fashion designer. Boy, Firth sure does know his speech impediments, so, as you can imagine, one of my bigger disappointments in this film is its not having Firth do some kind of a unique speech thing, because one can only imagine what a flamboyant gay Brit who has lived in California for too long would sound like. kind of man!" Man, it sure took Ronnie Van Zant a while to get that song's verses and chorus out, so I suppose that song really fits when discussing this film, because the next film that got Colin Firth Oscar attention also dealt with him taking a while to get a sentence out. He's of course alluding to homosexuality, but how appropriate this general message is in 2017, when the outcome of fear has been so clearly felt in U.S.
While teaching his class, Firth describes irrational fear as the motivating factor behind hatred of minorities, something heightened when a minority is invisible and walking among us. In a heartbreaking scene, Firth's character is not allowed to attend his partner of 16 years' funeral because it's for """family only""", but Ford exercises the perfect amount of restraint, and doesn't dwell on this any further.
The fact that the people involved in this story are gay is secondary, although it is nice that the movie shows us these relationships are like any other, and the painful consequences of societal rejection. He also recognizes those singular moments in life when one sees with absolute clarity, and the way director Tom Ford tells us this is touching and profound. Firth is morose, but shaken out of his routine and contemplating life and death, takes the opportunity to tell people kind things, the things he normally wouldn't have expressed. A student's (Nicholas Hoult) attraction to him is told very subtly, in the eyes. Firth's relationship with Goode is told in brief, touching flashbacks, which feel like real memories. The beauty of the film, just as in life, is in all of its little moments.
It's a strong cast and Firth and Moore in particular turn in great performances. He is consoled by his friend (Julianne Moore), but is having a lot of trouble snapping out of his despondency. Colin Firth is an English professor whose partner, played by Matthew Goode, has died in a car accident. This is a quiet, somber, and loving film, plumbing the depths of grief after the loss of one's partner in life.