Fionn O’Shea And Robert Aramayo To Lead Haunting Gay Conversion Therapy Drama “Lilies Not For Me”
Normal People actor Fionn O’Shea joins forces with Game Of Thrones actor Robert Aramayo in Lilies Not For Me. Directed by up-and-coming talent Will Seefried, the film looks at the lives of two men in 1920s England as they struggle with their identities and feelings for each other, reports Pink News.
The film puts their relationship in the historical context of conversion therapy, the discredited and harmful practice of attempting to change a person’s natural homosexual attractions to heterosexual attractions.
Choosing Love Over Fear
Set in 1920s England, Lilies Not for Me follows Owen James, a gay novelist played by Fionn O’Shea. Through flashbacks, Owen recounts his relationship with an old friend to his psychiatric nurse-turned-friend. Their bond spirals out of control when they resort to a dangerous procedure, hoping to “cure” their forbidden feelings. The film, described by the Edinburgh Film Festival as a mix of romanticism and horror, aims to shed light on a part of history that remains relevant today.
A Haunting Mix of Romanticism and Horror
The film’s director, Will Seefried, emphasises the importance of choosing love over fear. He hopes the film will remind viewers of the shocking reality of conversion therapy, even a century later. Seefried wants the audience to reclaim their narratives and remember that self-love is revolutionary. The film is co-produced by Emilie Georges and Naima Abed, known for their work on Call Me By Your Name, and supported by Memento International.
The movie also stars Erin Kellyman, known for her role in Disney’s Willow, and Jodi Balfour from Ted Lasso. The cast includes Louis Hofmann from Dark and Land Of Mine. The film is set to premiere at the Edinburgh Film Festival on 16 August, with an 18 certificate due to its mature content.
Fionn O’Shea, also recognised for his roles in Handsome Devil and Dating Amber, and Robert Aramayo, recently seen in The Lord Of the Rings: The Rings Of Power, bring depth to their characters. Both actors will soon appear in the biopic Dance First, about playwright Samuel Beckett.
Lilies Not For Me promises to be a powerful statement on societal constraints and the courage it takes to defy them. It will be premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival on 16 August.
