December 9, 2020
Watch: New Trailer Released for Viggo Mortensen's Gay Drama 'Falling'
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Viggo Mortensen's directorial debut, the LGBTQ-themed feature "Falling," has a new teaser trailer, Indiewire reports.
The Indiewire article offers a synopsis of the film's plot, noting that Mortensen, who wrote as well as directed, stars as John, the partnered gay son of a conservative farmer played by Lance Henriksen.
"In the early stages of dementia, Willis is brought to John's California home," the article summarizes.
Though Willis cannot remember certain things any longer (where he is, the fact that his wife is now dead), one fact he holds onto is that his son is gay. He also clings to his resentment over that fact.
One moment from the film shows Henriksen's character, Willis, asking John: "Did they know you were a fag in the Army?" As the line plays, the teaser shows John and his husband, Eric (Terry Chen). Replies John: "You can attack me all you want, but I am not going to engage with you on that level anymore."
Laura Linney, who is also featured in the movie as John's sister, Sarah, is also seen, telling John, "Heaven doesn't want him, and Hell keeps sending him back."
The teaser runs less than a minute, clocking in at 50 seconds, and follows in the wake of a previously-released full-length trailer that runs for two and a quarter minutes. But the teaser, while brief, leaves no doubt as to the film's themes.
Mortensen has pushed back at controversy around the fact that he is playing an LGBTQ role. As reported previously at EDGE, Mortensen described his reasons for writing John's character as gay, saying he was curious as to what it would mean for the story if instead of a wife, John had a husband. "I'll try that," Mortensen said. "I'll write the next scene and see how it feels. If it doesn't work or feels somehow not right for the story, then I won't use it, but I liked it."
As reported separately, Mortensen made the following point when talking about the controversy: "And how do you know what my life is? You're assuming that I'm completely straight."
Mortensen told the press that he never asked Terry Chen about his sexuality, saying that he "wouldn't think of asking someone what their sexual orientation or identification was.
"Neither do I assume that actors who identify as being homosexual only want to play homosexual roles," Mortensen added.
The actor added that he plays the role of John himself only because "I had a high enough profile, and I also didn't have to pay the actor."
Audiences will have a chance to make up their own minds when the film releases in early February.
Watch the new teaser below.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.