Keep the Lights On

2012 1h 42m EN

😐

5.7

MID

★5.7TMDB · 105

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In 1997 New York City, filmmaker Erik bonds with closeted lawyer Paul after a one-night fling. As their relationship evolves through dysfunctional patterns, Erik struggles to negotiate his own boundaries while being true to himself.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Thure Lindhardt
Erik Rothman
Zachary Booth
Paul Lucy
Julianne Nicholson
Claire
Souléymane Sy Savané
Alassane
Justin Reinsilber
Dan
Ed Vassallo
Thomas
Paprika Steen
Karen
Marilyn Neimark
Marilyn Neimark

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ira Sachs
Writers: Ira Sachs, Mauricio Zacharias
Languages: Danish, English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

Released 14 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Danish, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ira Sachs, shot by Thimios Bakatakis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Affonso Gonçalves shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Thure Lindhardt and Zachary Booth and Julianne Nicholson carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt2011953 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ira Sachs directs. Thimios Bakatakis behind the camera. Affonso Gonçalves cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in Danish, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 14 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Danish, English.
3Directed by Ira Sachs, shot by Thimios Bakatakis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Editor Affonso Gonçalves shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Thure Lindhardt and Zachary Booth and Julianne Nicholson carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt2011953 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Classified under 10 themes, including "hiv", "drug rehabilitation", "intervention", "lgbt".
8Released under 11 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Thimios Bakatakis
Editing: Affonso Gonçalves
Production design: Amy Williams
Costume design: Elisabeth Vastola
Runtime: 102 min · 1h 42m
Status: Released
Box office: $243,959
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Keep the Lights On (2012)

Awards

Dorian Award for LGBTQ Film of the Year
Teddy Award

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Ira Sachs

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

kinrich302026-09-08
★ 1/10
I found to be kind of annoying at times. The main character seems all right at first glance but the longer you watch it you see that he isn't really a good person who uses manipulation and emotional blackmail on the people around him. A hook up leads to a relationship, but we find out that one of the guys had an addiction problem and that becomes the focus of the later part of the movie.

Production companies