Keep the Lights On 2012

As the city lights of New York City gleamed bright in 1998, Erik (Thure Lindhardt), a Danish artist with a flair for the unconventional, locked eyes with Paul (Zachary Booth), a stoic lawyer, over the hum of a phone sex hot-line. The air was electric as they shared a moment of unbridled intimacy, their bodies entwined in a dance of passion and discovery. Erik’s subsequent visit to Russ (Sebastian La Cause) was a far cry from the fiery connection he had with Paul; instead, he found himself face-to-face with a man more interested in showcasing his physical prowess than exploring the depths of human connection.

As Erik and Paul continued to navigate their whirlwind romance, the artist confided in his friend Claire (Julianne Nicholson) about his newfound happiness with Paul, juxtaposing it with the tumultuous relationship he had with Paolo, who was HIV-positive. Meanwhile, Paul’s secret life outside of their relationship began to seep into the cracks; he asked Erik to keep quiet about his drug use and indulged in a haze of intoxication, drawing Erik deeper into the vortex.

As Erik delved further into the world of art and expression, he found himself struggling to reconcile Paul’s dual identities – the closeted lawyer who hid behind a mask of conformity, and the free-spirited lover who reveled in the unbridled passion they shared. When Paul’s ex-girlfriend appeared at an art gallery, Erik sensed the tension between them and urged Paul to introduce him as a gesture of trust.

But little did Erik know that his own destiny was about to take a dramatic turn. A phone call from his doctor revealed the results he had been waiting for – he was HIV-negative. As Erik celebrated this newfound freedom, Paul threw him a surprise birthday party, replete with champagne and laughter.

Fast-forward to 2000, and the cracks in their relationship began to show like fissures on a fault line. Paul caught Erik talking to another man on the street, sparking a heated argument that threatened to consume them both. The silence between them grew thicker than fog as they struggled to reconcile their differences.

As Erik worked on his documentary away from home, he found solace in the phone sex hot-line – only to be startled when Paul’s voice answered on the other end, leaving him reeling with emotions. Back in New York, Erik and Paul’s arguments reached a fever pitch, but they managed to patch things up, only for them to unravel once more.

In the aftermath of a particularly brutal fight, Erik returned home to find an unconscious Paul outside their apartment door. The damage was done – Paul had checked himself into rehab, citing Erik as the reason for his downfall. As Erik’s world crumbled around him, he found solace in the unassuming arms of Igor (Miguel del Toro), a painter with eyes that saw beyond the surface.

In this fractured landscape of love and addiction, Erik stood at the crossroads, poised to embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing.

As the curtain lifted on a new era for both Paul and Erik in 2003, the former’s release from rehab seemed to mark a turning point. Erik, fresh from the critical acclaim of his film, had every reason to believe that their lives would soon fall into harmony. However, a harsh dose of reality awaited him when he discovered that Paul had been absent from home for the duration of his stint in rehabilitation. The revelation came as a jarring blow, and it was only natural that Erik turned to his sister for solace. But even as she offered words of comfort, Erik received an unexpected call from Paul himself, summoning him to visit at his hotel suite.

The encounter proved to be a somber one, as Paul’s behavior grew increasingly erratic, his attempts to project an aura of normalcy belied by the telltale signs of ongoing struggles. Erik’s pleas for his friend to return home fell on deaf ears, and instead, Paul indulged in a provocative display of self-destructive tendencies, opting to pay for the company of a male escort while Erik looked on in dismay.

As the months passed, Erik found solace in the companionship of Russ, with whom he shared a series of illicit substances and perhaps something more. The intervening years saw Paul and Erik reunite at a diner in 2006, their faces bearing a newfound sense of serenity. But this fragile calm was short-lived, as Paul extended an invitation to spend the night at his apartment, only to rebuff Erik’s advances before succumbing to sleep.

Erik’s chance encounter with Igor on the city streets led to a impromptu bar crawl, during which the two old friends rekindled their bond. As they ventured further into the countryside, Erik felt compelled to broach the subject of their relationship, only to be met with a sudden, brutal display of aggression from Paul. The ultimatum was clear: commit to cohabitation or risk losing each other forever.

Erik’s subsequent decision to opt for the former course saw him make the ill-advised choice to drive into the city in the dead of night to convey his change of heart. The encounter that ensued found Erik confessing his enduring love, only to be met with a mixture of skepticism and weariness from Paul. In the end, it was a tender hug that marked their reconciliation, with Paul offering a parting benediction for Erik’s well-being as they parted ways once more.