To Die For (1994 film)
Encyclopedia
To Die For is a British
comedy drama film directed by Peter Mackenzie Litten in 1994
. It stars Thomas Arklie, Ian Williams
, Tony Slattery
, Dillie Keane
and John Altman. The screenplay was written by Johnny Byrne, Paul McEvoy, and Litten. The original music score was composed by Roger Bolton
.
Both of them are struggling to come to terms with Mark's deteriorating condition. Nowadays, Mark prefers to stay at home when not performing - working on his own panel of embroidery for an AIDS quilt memorial project. Simon however, prefers to turn a blind eye to the situation and continues to cruise London's gay bars at night looking for action.
Mark dies early on in the story and Simon becomes the focus of the story as he buries his feelings and continues his torrid sex life. At first, It seems that he's totally unaffected by his lover's death. But when Mark comes back to haunt him his life suddenly gets a lot more complex! Especially as he's the only one who can see him.
It turns out that Mark has actually come back to help his partner to accept his true feelings and to encourage him to reassess his reckless lifestyle. A lifestyle that he is sure will never bring him the happiness he seeks. Eventually, Mark gets through to him and Simon breaks down and weeps for the very first time.
Mark's work is done and he can leave his one-time lover to move on with his life.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comedy drama film directed by Peter Mackenzie Litten in 1994
1994 in film
1994 was a significant year in film.The top grosser worldwide was The Lion King, which to date stands as the highest-grossing traditionally-animated film of all time...
. It stars Thomas Arklie, Ian Williams
Ian Williams
Ian Williams is an American rock guitarist. He became noted for his finger tapping guitar playing in bands such as Don Caballero, Storm & Stress and currently in Battles.-Biography:...
, Tony Slattery
Tony Slattery
Anthony Declan James "Tony" Slattery is an English actor and comedian who has appeared on British television regularly since the mid 1980s, most notably as a regular on the Channel 4 improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway? As a film actor, both comedic and serious, his credits include The...
, Dillie Keane
Dillie Keane
Louise M. "Dillie" Keane is an Olivier Award-nominated actress, singer and comedienne. She is perhaps best known as one third of the comedy cabaret trio Fascinating Aida since its 1983 inception, but she has also had a prominent solo career.-Theatre and Fascinating Aida:Keane was nominated for a...
and John Altman. The screenplay was written by Johnny Byrne, Paul McEvoy, and Litten. The original music score was composed by Roger Bolton
Roger Bolton
Roger William Bolton was a British trade unionist.Roger Bolton left Dublin with his family in 1958 when they moved to London...
.
Plot summary
Set in London in the early nineties, the film portrays the bitter-sweet lifestyles of a young gay couple in a fiery open relationship. Mark is an acerbic drag queen with a sharp tongue, who finds it difficult to accept his much better-looking partner's highly-promiscuous lifestyle of non-stop clubbing and cruising. Worse still, Mark is HIV positive and his partner is negative.Both of them are struggling to come to terms with Mark's deteriorating condition. Nowadays, Mark prefers to stay at home when not performing - working on his own panel of embroidery for an AIDS quilt memorial project. Simon however, prefers to turn a blind eye to the situation and continues to cruise London's gay bars at night looking for action.
Mark dies early on in the story and Simon becomes the focus of the story as he buries his feelings and continues his torrid sex life. At first, It seems that he's totally unaffected by his lover's death. But when Mark comes back to haunt him his life suddenly gets a lot more complex! Especially as he's the only one who can see him.
It turns out that Mark has actually come back to help his partner to accept his true feelings and to encourage him to reassess his reckless lifestyle. A lifestyle that he is sure will never bring him the happiness he seeks. Eventually, Mark gets through to him and Simon breaks down and weeps for the very first time.
Mark's work is done and he can leave his one-time lover to move on with his life.
Main cast
- Thomas Arklie - Simon
- Ian WilliamsIan WilliamsIan Williams is an American rock guitarist. He became noted for his finger tapping guitar playing in bands such as Don Caballero, Storm & Stress and currently in Battles.-Biography:...
- Mark - Tony SlatteryTony SlatteryAnthony Declan James "Tony" Slattery is an English actor and comedian who has appeared on British television regularly since the mid 1980s, most notably as a regular on the Channel 4 improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway? As a film actor, both comedic and serious, his credits include The...
- Terry - Dillie KeaneDillie KeaneLouise M. "Dillie" Keane is an Olivier Award-nominated actress, singer and comedienne. She is perhaps best known as one third of the comedy cabaret trio Fascinating Aida since its 1983 inception, but she has also had a prominent solo career.-Theatre and Fascinating Aida:Keane was nominated for a...
- Siobbah - John Altman - Dogger
- Jean BohtJean BohtJean Boht is an English actress.She is most famous for the role of Nellie Boswell in Carla Lane's comedy Bread....
- Mrs. Downs - Caroline MunroCaroline MunroCaroline Munro is an English actress and model known for her many appearances in horror, science fiction and action films of the 1970s and 1980s.-Early career:...
- Mrs. Pignon - Ian McKellenIan McKellenSir Ian Murray McKellen, CH, CBE is an English actor. He has received a Tony Award, two Academy Award nominations, and five Emmy Award nominations. His work has spanned genres from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction...
- Quilt Documentary Narrator