John Lithgow and Alfred Molina prove to be quite the couple in Ira Sachs’ latest movie, Love Is Strange. The two actors play Ben and George, respectively, who, after having been together for 39 years, finally get to tie the knot once New York’s new marriage laws take effect, culminating in a wonderful ceremony which they share with family and friends.
However, when the Catholic school where George teaches discovers what he has done, they quickly fire him as they do not approve of the union. This forces him and Ben to sell their apartment as they can no longer afford it, and they find themselves living separately and staying with friends as they search endlessly for a cheaper place to live. It doesn’t take long, however, for this temporary living situation to start weighing heavily not just on Ben and George, but on everyone else involved.
Ira Sachs and John Lithgow were in Los Angeles recently for the Love Is Strange press day, which was held at the Four Seasons Hotel. While there, I landed an exclusive interview with them. During our talk, Ira discussed how he typically casts actors based on feeling and conversation and how this movie is about love more than anything else. As for Lithgow, he spoke beautifully about the differences between acting in movies and in the theater, and of how he and Molina developed their onscreen relationship.
Check it all out in the video above, and be sure to catch Love Is Strange when it arrives in theaters on August 22nd.
