John Lithgow has described his new film
Love is Strange as a powerful love story that everyone can
relate to.
The film, which opened Friday in New
York City and Los Angeles, pairs Lithgow with Alfred Molina.
After 39 years together, Ben (played by
Lithgow) and George (Molina) decide to exchange vows. Their
marriage, however, causes Ben to lose his job as a longtime choir
director for a co-ed Catholic school.
Speaking to gay male entertainment blog
TheBacklot.com,
Lithgow said the film's centerpiece was its romance between his
character and Molina's.
“The most vivid thing about the film
is this love relationship. I always say, it's a movie with one
starring role that's played by two actors. The starring role in this
film is a marriage,” Lithgow said.
“It's about that particular kind of
intimacy. Love that has lasted for 40 years.”
“It's cranky and uncomfortable
sometimes, but these two people are completely essential to each
other. And the fact that they're two old gay men just makes it
extraordinarily unusual. You just don't see that relationship
portrayed in movies.”
Marisa Tomei, Cheyenne Jackson, Darren
Burrows and Charlie Tahan also appear in the film.
(Watch
the film's trailer here.)