George Falconer is a respectable middle-aged man, a professor of literature and an unhappy lonely soul. Eight months before the important events of his life, his beloved Jim, the man with whom George had lived for the last 16 years, died in a car accident. At that time, the Cuban missile crisis was still going on, and Jim did not live to see its end. George was unable to attend his partner’s funeral – his family did not allow such a scandalous event. The only one who understands and consoles the man is his old friend Charlotte, who is no less unhappy.
Mr. Falconer lives as if by inertia. He thinks a lot about the essence of existence, reflecting mainly on its philosophy in a sad way. Sometimes he even thinks about suicide, unable to live alone any longer. Longing for Jim, he simply wants to follow his beloved. The professor is constantly immersed in memories, he tries in the past to find answers to the questions that torment him in the present. But at the same time, he practically ceases to notice real life and his own needs. For example, he is completely oblivious to a young hustler who is ready to provide him with sexual favors and openly offers himself in a parking lot. But George is completely indifferent, so the guy remains unclaimed. And at the same time, Professor Falconer is still trying to find some kind of beauty in the world around him, or at least remember it.
The only thing that evokes at least some response in Professor Falconer’s soul is the advances of his student Kenny, who behaves quite intrusively. The young man makes George think that his life may still have some meaning, because there is a person who is so interested in him. Kenny becomes the meaning of life for Falconer, but this story will also have a sad ending…
George Falconer is the embodiment of loneliness. Every day for eight months he sees the same dream – his bloodied lover lying in the snow. He has a mixture of many feelings that constantly pull him to the bottom. And all that remains for him is to wallow in these feelings. The only question is which one to win – love or pain. In his reflections, George often focuses on the theme of suffering. But even he himself sees that life does not consist only of painful moments; moreover, without them it would be impossible to fully experience all the joys available to a person.