As a film lover, I was really moved by The Man I Love. It’s a film about a man, Jimmy, determined to keep creating art even as he’s facing a terminal illness, and it beautifully portrays the vibrant queer community of the late 80s who refused to be silenced by the AIDS epidemic. But at its heart, it’s about the painful experience of loving someone who seems to have limited space for you – a theme director Sachs explores a lot, like in Passages and Keep the Lights On. The film centers on Jimmy’s relationship with his long-term partner, Dennis (Tom Sturridge), who has tirelessly cared for him through everything, including a recent, near-fatal bout of pneumonia. When Jimmy recovers, he begins a relationship with Vincent (Luther Ford), a young, naive newcomer who moves in downstairs. Vincent isn’t just attracted to Jimmy; he’s convinced they’re destined for a grand romance. He’s almost desperate for Jimmy’s attention, even boldly telling Dennis that Jimmy needs to be with him – that as an artist, he requires the inspiration. It’s a really striking and somewhat unsettling dynamic.
