‘Love Is Strange’
John Lithgow, director Ira Sachs, Marisa Tomei and Alfred Molina celebrate the release of their romantic drama Love Is Strange at New York City's Tribeca Grand Hotel.
John Lithgow, director Ira Sachs, Marisa Tomei and Alfred Molina celebrate the release of their romantic drama Love Is Strange at New York City's Tribeca Grand Hotel.
Set in New York City, the film follows Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina), who finally tie the knot after 39 years together. Their marriage leads George to lose his job as a music teacher at a Catholic school, however, and the two men are forced to live separately with friends.
Ira Sachs, who directed the film, used a directorial style neither John Lithgow nor Alfred Molina were accustomed to. Lithgow recalled Sachs spending time with each actor individually instead of having them all rehearse together. This let the "chemical reactions happen" once all the actors gathered on set. "It's the most kind of modest, muted performance, and yet it's so full of every one of these characters," Lithgow previously told THR. "I mean, there are so many great actors in the film. … He treated all of these characters with just as much care."
Marisa Tomei plays Kate, a novelist who works from home and is married to Ben's (Lithgow) nephew.
"I wanted to make a love story, and the film is about this couple played by John and Alfred, but is actually about the whole family, friends and relatives who come together to support them in their time of need," director Ira Sachs, who hit the screening with Parker Posey, told THR at Sundance.
Brian d'Arcy James also stepped out for the Tribeca Grand Hotel screening.
Tank Burt, who plays Doreen in the Sony Pictures Classics romantic drama, also hit the screening.
Ralph Macchio attended the event with daughter Julia Macchio. After the screening, Grey Goose Le Melon cocktails were served at the Jimmy at the James Hotel rooftop.
Producer Lucas Joaquin celebrates the release of the film. THR noted when reviewing the film that it "get[s] the familiar humor and half-evoked memories that are so typical of long-term relationships exactly right. … Lithgow and Molina are impressively tuned in to the material and each other."
Charlie Tahan plays Joey, the son of Elliot (Darren Burrows) and Kate (Marisa Tomei).