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Will Seefried’s directorial debut, Lilies Not For Me, masterfully blends a tragic historical episode for the gay community with a heartwarming, poetic vision. Set in England, in the early 1920s, the narrative follows Owen James, an aspiring novelist who has been admitted to a medical facility claiming to suppress same-sex desire. As part of his treatment, he is expected to spend daily time with a young nurse, Dorothy, to introduce him to a so-called normal heterosexual behaviour.
Throughout the film, Owen’s backstory unfolds in flashbacks, as we understand that he’s telling it to Dorothy, who is quickly revealed to be an ally. We learn of the visit from a friend from the past, Philip, who introduced Owen to an unproven procedure that promised to cure homosexuality. In the midst of this gloomy narrative, a beautiful yet short-lived love affair between Owen and Charles, the son of his late neighbour, blossoms.
Throughout the film, Owen’s backstory unfolds in flashbacks, as we understand that he’s telling it to Dorothy, who is quickly revealed to be an ally. We learn of the visit from a friend from the past, Philip, who introduced Owen to an unproven procedure that promised to cure homosexuality. In the midst of this gloomy narrative, a beautiful yet short-lived love affair between Owen and Charles, the son of his late neighbour, blossoms.
Pluck Me Poppies: Celebrating Lilies Not For Me serves as an homage to this crucial piece of cinema and includes an exclusive interview with filmmaker Will Seefried about this directorial debut.
Seefried isn’t afraid to denounce the inhuman conditions in which gay people were treated in conversion facilities. While Lilies Not For Me is bold and leaves no doubt about the fact that places such as these are nothing but monstrous, its director remarkably manages to honour and lift the film’s main character until the very end, even in the face of certain tragedy.
Seefried isn’t afraid to denounce the inhuman conditions in which gay people were treated in conversion facilities. While Lilies Not For Me is bold and leaves no doubt about the fact that places such as these are nothing but monstrous, its director remarkably manages to honour and lift the film’s main character until the very end, even in the face of certain tragedy.
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ALL ARTWORKS ARE ORIGINAL CREATIONS.
© 2025 JOÃO DELFIM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ALL ARTWORKS ARE ORIGINAL CREATIONS.
© 2025 JOÃO DELFIM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.