Will Seefried‘s Lilies Not for Me make its debut at the Edinburgh Film Festival.
A first-look sneak peek courtesy of Deadline previews the conversion therapy romance film. It stars Robert Aramayo (The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power), Fionn O’Shea (Handsome Devil‘), and Louis Hofman (Ripley).
Lilies Not for Me tells a love story between two gay men. They are so afflicted by their feelings for one another that they turn to unorthodox means to cure themselves.
The clip begins with Aramayo’s character approaching Hofmans’s character, Charles, to offer him a towel. He tries not to stare at the half-naked man in front of him.
“What do you imagine the authorities would say about your … blossoming friendship?” Aramayo’s character asks Charles.
It is unclear what “friendship” they’re talking about based on the clip. Given that the film’s synopsis reveals that Aramayo and O’Shea’s characters were lovers, it’s safe to assume that O’Shea’s character moved on to begin a relationship with Hofmann’s character.
That, or it’s an entirely different relationship.
Charles feigns ignorance. Aramayo’s character lays out the consequences of this “friendship” if the authorities find out. Imprisonment, which comes with hard labor, is in the cards.
“Are you threatening me?” Charles asks.
‘Lilies Not for Me’ Tackles Gay Love In an Unkindly Homophobic World
The succeeding conversation reveals a lot. It becomes clear that Aramayo’s character knows Charles’ lover.
Charles is apparently married. Aramayo’s character brings it up, but Charles doesn’t take it lightly.
“I’m in the medical profession, Charles, and a group of my colleagues have developed a cure for the condition afflicting you and Darwin(?). A procedure guaranteed to eradicate immoral desires and set you to become a healthy man,” Aramayo’s character offers out of the kindness of his ignorant heart.
The clip wastes no time in introducing the hard topic the film will tackle.
“Conversation therapy” has come a long way. From barbaric practices of lobotomies to the current legislatures around the world that ban the practice.
There is no scientific evidence that it works. At the root of it, it’s unnecessary since being gay is not an illness.
The clip also invites the viewer to a world gone by. The costumes and setting reflect the late 1900s when society accepted the practice.
Other cast members include rising stars like Erin Kellyman (Willow) and Jodi Balfour (Ted Lasso).
The director describes the film (via Variety) as a courageous tale “about choosing lover over fear.” He adds,
“The story is inspired by a part of queer history that not many people know about, but it’s shocking how relevant it still is today. The film will move people to reclaim the narratives that haunt them and remember that self-love is a revolutionary act.”
Lilies Not for Me does not have a theatrical or streaming date yet. Watch the clip in the YouTube video embedded above.