Keep the Lights On

Keep the Lights On is an American drama film, which premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and was released in New York City and Los Angeles on September 7, 2012 by Music Box Films. Directed by Ira Sachs, and written by Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias, the film stars Thure Lindhardt as Erik, a Danish filmmaker living in New York City to work on a documentary film about artist Avery Willard while there, he enters into a loving but complicated longterm relationship with Paul Zachary Booth, a lawyer in the publishing industry who struggles with drug addiction. The films cast also includes David Anzuelo, Maria Dizzia, Julianne Nicholson, Soulymane Sy Savan, Miguel Del Toro and Paprika Steen.

In 1998, Erik Thure Lindhardt, a Danish artist living in New York, meets Paul Zachary Booth, a lawyer, through a phone sex hotline. Clearly attracted to each other, they share an intimate moment and have sex. Erik later visits a man named Russ Sebastian La Cause who seems more interested in showing off his muscles to Erik than having sex. Erik sees Paul again, and tells him about how he broke up with his exboyfriend Paolo, who was HIVpositive. Erik confides to his friend Claire Julianne Nicholson on how he is happier now with Paul than he was with Paolo. Meanwhile, Paul asks Erik to keep quiet about his drug use and gets Erik high. Paul, who was closeted before meeting Erik, sees his exgirlfriend while visiting an art gallery with Erik, who tries to persuade Paul to introduce him to her. While away from the city, Erik calls his doctor for some test results and learns that he is HIVnegative. Later, Paul throws a surprise birthday party for Erik.In 2000, Paul catches Erik talking to another man in the street. While confronting Erik about this, Paul argues with him, but they manage to get over it. Paul then briefly goes missing during a dinner with Erik and his friends, and evades Eriks questions about where he was. Erik, away from home working on his documentary, feels lonely and calls a phone sex hotline. However, he is startled when he is connected with Paul. Erik is left upset. Back in New York, Erik argues again with Paul but they manage to make up in the night. Later, Erik returns home from working on his documentary, he finds an unconscious Paul outside their apartment. Paul is sent to rehab and states that Erik ruined his life. Erik goes to a gay club and meets a painter named Igor Miguel del Toro. ........

Source: Wikipedia