Lilies Not for Me

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Lilies Not for Me
Directed byWill Seefried
Produced by Emilie Georges
Naima Abed
Starring Fionn O'Shea
Robert Aramayo
Erin Kellyman
Jodi Balfour
Louis Hofmann
CinematographyCory Fraiman-Lott
Edited byJulia Bloch
Music byTheodosia Roussos
Production
companies
Release date
Running time
99 minutes
LanguageEnglish

Lilies Not For Me is a 1920s period drama film directed by Will Seefried. [1]

Contents

Plot

Set in 1920s England, the film follows Owen James (Fionn O'Shea), an aspiring novelist who was admitted to a medical facility that claims to “cure” homosexual tendencies through then-experimental procedures. As part of Owen’s treatment, he is placed under the care of Nurse Dorothy (Erin Kellyman), with whom he shares prescribed daily teatime sessions meant to prepare him for a so-called “normal” heterosexual life.

Through a series of flashbacks, Owen’s backstory gradually unfolds, revealing a clandestine affair and the traumatic consequences of a risky, unproven practice that promised to suppress same-sex desire. In the present, the narrative focuses on Owen’s growing bond with Dorothy, whose open-mindedness contrasts sharply with the hospital’s repressive ethos. Meanwhile, characters played by Robert Aramayo and Louis Hofmann factor into Owen’s past—and potentially his future—as the facility’s staff and patients wrestle with moral, psychological, and social pressures. [2]

Cast

Production

Lilies Not For Me marks Will Seefried’s feature directorial debut, produced by Emilie Georges and Naima Abed — whose past credits include Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name. Seefried, who also wrote the screenplay, drew inspiration from archival research into early 20th-century practices that purported to “cure” homosexuality. Principal photography took place on location in England, with set design and costumes chosen to authentically portray the 1920s setting and underscore the film’s themes of repression and forbidden desire. In interviews, Seefried cited classic queer works like James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room, Todd Haynes’ Carol, and Merchant Ivory’s Maurice as key influences for the film’s tone and style. Lilies Not For Me had its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, where it garnered attention for its blend of romantic period drama and horror elements. Following its festival debut, Gravitas Ventures acquired the film for North American distribution, announcing plans to release it on digital and VOD platforms in April. [3]

Release

Lilies Not For Me had its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. [4] Following its festival debut, the film was acquired by Gravitas Ventures for North American distribution. According to reports, it is slated for digital and VOD release in April, with additional international rollout details yet to be announced. Although no official trailer has been released, sneak peek clips have circulated online, offering glimpses of the film’s central conflict and 1920s setting.

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References

  1. Scheetz, Cameron. "This haunting romantic drama tells a story of gay love & loss in 1920s England". Queerty. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  2. Keslassy, Elsa (2025-01-07). "'Lilies Not for Me,' Romance Starring Fionn O'Shea and Robert Aramayo, Sells to North America and More for Memento Intl. (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  3. Romney2024-08-16T17:39:00+01:00, Jonathan. "'Lilies Not For Me': Edinburgh Review". Screen. Retrieved 2025-01-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. "Lilies Not For Me". Edinburgh International Film Festival. Retrieved 2025-01-08.

Lilies Not for Me on IMDB