A Single Man

A Single Man

Year: 2009

Runtime: 99 min

Language: English

Director: Tom Ford

Budget: $7M

Drama

In 1962 Los Angeles, against the backdrop of the Cuban missile crisis, a college professor named George Falconer faces a day of profound introspection following the death of his partner, Jim. Struggling with grief and contemplating his future, George finds unexpected connection and support from his friend Charley and a young student named Kenny. They navigate themes of loss, identity, and the search for meaning in a time of global uncertainty.

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Timeline & Setting – A Single Man (2009)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Single Man (2009). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1962

The early 1960s was a period marked by tension and uncertainty, particularly following the Cuban Missile Crisis. This era explored themes of identity and existentialism, with societal norms beginning to shift. Against this backdrop, George grapples with his grief, illustrating a microcosm of larger cultural changes regarding love and loss.

Location

Los Angeles

Los Angeles, known for its vibrant entertainment industry and diverse population, serves as a poignant backdrop for George Falconer's story. The city is often associated with dreams and aspirations, yet in this narrative, it reflects George's deep solitude and emotional turmoil. It contrasts the everyday beauty with the haunting memories that drive George's decisions.

🌆 City 📚 Academia

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:50

Main Characters – A Single Man (2009)

Meet the key characters of A Single Man (2009), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

George Falconer

George Falconer is a middle-aged English college professor, who is deeply affected by the death of his partner, Jim. He displays a profound vulnerability and introspection throughout the film, as he navigates a day filled with sorrow and fleeting moments of joy. George's struggles with depression and his ultimate confrontation with grief reveal his complex emotional landscape.

👨‍🏫 Professor 💔 Grieving 🧐 Reflective

Charley

Charley, portrayed by Julianne Moore, is George's closest friend who embodies empathetic warmth amidst her own struggles. She seeks to uplift George but often misses the depth of his pain and the significance of his past with Jim. Her character represents the challenges of connecting with someone entrenched in grief.

👭 Friendship 💕 Supportive 🌧️ Sorrowful

Kenny Potter

Kenny Potter, played by Matthew Goode, is a perceptive student who blurs the lines of student-professor boundaries. His interest in George reflects a longing for connection and serves as a catalyst for George’s emotional awakening. Kenny symbolizes the new connections that can emerge in times of sorrow.

🎓 Student ❤️ Curious 🌟 Intriguing

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:50

Major Themes – A Single Man (2009)

Explore the central themes of A Single Man (2009), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Grief

Grief is the central theme of 'A Single Man,' as George Falconer navigates the profound loss of his partner, Jim. This theme is intertwined with moments of reflection and memories, showcasing how love persists even in the wake of death. The film examines the impact of mourning on mental health and the struggle to find meaning in life after loss.

✨ Rediscovery

Throughout the film, George embarks on a journey of rediscovery, confronted by the fleeting beauty of life. His interactions with friends and students ignite a spark of hope, urging him to reconnect with his emotions. This theme underscores the importance of human connection and the possibility of healing even in the darkest times.

🌊 Existentialism

Existential themes permeate George's experiences, as he contemplates life and death and grapples with his purpose. The film asks profound questions about existence, leading George to moments of clarity amid his despair. This theme encourages viewers to reflect on the nature of happiness and the significance of love and loss.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:50

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Stylized movies about grief like A Single Man

Visually rich films where aesthetic beauty mirrors a character's internal sorrow.For viewers looking for movies like A Single Man that explore themes of loss and memory through a highly stylized visual approach. These dramas use aesthetics to deepen the emotional impact, creating beautiful and melancholic experiences.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread often follow a character navigating a significant loss, with the narrative unfolding through their subjective, memory-filled perspective. The plot is secondary to the emotional arc, which is amplified by a carefully controlled visual and auditory style that reflects the protagonist's inner world.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared commitment to using cinematic style as a primary tool for storytelling. They share a melancholic tone, a slow, contemplative pace, and a focus on how visual beauty can articulate deep, personal grief, making the emotional experience more resonant.

Movies about a single transformative day like A Single Man

Intimate stories where a single day forces a profound reevaluation of life.If you liked the focused timeline of A Single Man, explore these dramas where a character's entire life is reexamined in just one day. These films capture the weight of decisions and the search for meaning within a compressed, intimate narrative structure.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern centers on a protagonist who begins the day at an emotional crossroads, often due to grief, disillusionment, or a major life decision. Through a series of encounters, memories, and reflections, they move toward a moment of acceptance, change, or understanding by the day's end, with the structure heightening the emotional stakes.

Why These Movies?

This thread connects films that use a tight, single-day timeline to explore heavy themes of identity, mortality, and connection. They share an intimate scale, a slow, thoughtful pace, and a bittersweet emotional quality, focusing on internal transformation over external plot.

Unlock the Full Story of A Single Man

Don't stop at just watching — explore A Single Man in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what A Single Man is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

A Single Man Summary

Read a complete plot summary of A Single Man, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

A Single Man Summary

A Single Man Timeline

Track the full timeline of A Single Man with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

A Single Man Timeline

A Single Man Spoiler-Free Summary

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A Single Man Spoiler-Free Summary

More About A Single Man

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about A Single Man: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About A Single Man

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