An Empty Bed

Written and directed by Mark Gasper, this is a haunting drama about a day in the life (or life in a day) of an elderly gay man, as he walks around the streets of Greenwich Village and sees sights which trigger poignant memories of his past. John Wylie is superb as Bill Frayne, the protagonist. His face is a road map, on which is written all the remembered joys and present pain of a life of missed opportunities. As he recalls his early relationship with a college sweetheart, as well as two gay affairs, the viewer sees that Bill--struggling with a variety of social and personal pressures--refuses to commit to a relationship. Now, he suffers. This is a challenging, provocative film, that not only illuminates the loneliness of old age, but also offers--in its total capture of the essence of Bill Frayne--a painting come to life. The high price of this affecting portrait unfortunately places it out of the reach of most public libraries. For those who can afford it, however, it is highly recommended. (Available from: Yankee-Oriole Company, 21-12 33 Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106.) (R. Pitman)[DVD Review—Aug. 22, 2006—First Run, 56 min., not rated, $19.95—Making its first appearance on DVD, 1989's An Empty Bed features a solid transfer, with DVD extras including a 26-minute interview with filmmaker Mark Gasper, a photo gallery, text cast and crew bios, text production notes, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a fine film.]