A story that centers on an English professor who, after the sudden death of his partner tries to go about his typical day in Los Angeles. A story that centers on an English professor who, after the sudden death of his partner tries to go about his typical day in Los Angeles. This film is a romantic tale of love interrupted.

The film premiered on September 11, 2009 at the 66th Venice International Film Festival and went on the film festival circuit. An initial limited run in the United State was planned for December 2009 to qualify it for the Academy Awards with a wider release planned for early 2010.

Synopsis

Set in Los Angeles on November 30, 1962, a month after the Cuban missile crisis, A Single Man is the story of George Falconer (Colin Firth), a middle age English college professor who has struggled to find meaning in his life since the car accident that killed his longtime partner, Jim (Matthew Goode), eight months earlier. Jim's family disapproved of his relationship with George and thus refused George permission to attend the funeral. George Falconer (Colin Firth) approaches a car accident in the middle of a snow white scenery. There is a bloodied man there and he kisses him. He wakes up: he had dreamed the moment when his partner of 16 year, Jim (Mathew Goode), died. Jim was visiting alone his family. When the phone rings at George's home, he remembers how a friend of Jim had phoned him to tell what happened, and he couldn't even attend the funeral, as the family did not approve of Jim's life. George opens his heart only to Charley (Julianne Moore), his once girlfriend, who may still attracted to him.

He has a shower and dresses himself up. It is November 30, 1962. He is originally British, but now works as a professor of English at UCLA. He is sad and depressed, and when he leaves his glass house for work, he put a loaded gun inside his portfolio.

Then he says his cleaning lady Alva (Paulette Lamori) that she has always been wonderful - in spite of her having forgotten to take out the bread from the fridge. George hugs her, which leaves her speechless.

George goes to campus, and he needs to do something at the office. On hsi way there, he notices a couple of students, chain-smoking Doris (Nicole Steinwedell) and a boy. One of the secretaries (Keri Lynn Pratt) tells him that she has given his address to some nice new student. The student is Kenny Potter, (Nicholas Hoult), who talks to him after class about the speech George has just given out in the classroom concerning minorities and fear, the use of drugs. The student tells him that George never talks too much, but that today, for some reason, he behaved differently. He buys George a pencil shaperner because of the trouble George has taken talking to him.

George phones Charley, who is dressing up. George gets into his car, and picks his gun after having cleaned up his office. However, Kenny appears once again, and invites him to go for a drink, as he sees George especially sad. George tells him it'll have to be some other time, because now he is late. He goes to the bank to pick up all his things, and he remembers a conversation he had with Jim.

After buying some bullets, he steps into Carlos (Jon Kortajarena), breaking into pieces a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of gin. George pays up for another packet and a new bottle of Scotch and they talk. Then George leaves, saying that this is a serious day for him and that he's trying to get over an old love.

Back at home, he puts on a record and remembers a conversation he had had with Jim while each one was reading a different book. He tries to shoot himself, but won't find the best way to do it. Then, the phone rings. It's Charley to remind him of their dinner together. They dance and talk together about London, life, Charley's husband strandment... Among other things, Charley says that George doesn't look too well, and reminds him of the heart attack he suffered around a year ago.

Jim and George had met when the former had just got a leave from the Army, right after the war. George comes back to that place nearby his home -which is now sad, lonely and gloomy, and asks for a Scotch. Kenny is there. They go to the beach and swim naked. Later, they go to George's place. As Gorge's forehead is bleeding, Kenny tends to it, and sees in the medicine's cabinet a photo of Jim, naked. Kenny says that he and Doris are not together, apparently. I think it is implied Jim and George did not have sex together. George will die that night of a heart attack.