Open Space Arts invites you to join us for our next Queer Expression Film Fest screening at FACETS Film Forum, part of our ongoing Gay Movie of the Month series.
Open Space Arts presents the Chicago premiere of BOOKENDS, a funny, heartfelt, and deeply moving queer dramedy about love, family, aging, and the unexpected connections that help us begin again.
After a painful breakup, aspiring novelist Nate leaves New York City and retreats to a retirement community where his beloved grandparents live. What begins as a temporary refuge soon becomes a life-changing journey through family responsibility, caregiving, grief, and self-discovery. As his Holocaust-surviving grandfather begins showing signs of dementia and his grandmother struggles to face the reality of his decline, Nate finds himself caught between the future he imagined and the family that needs him now. An unexpected romance with the community's handsome doctor further complicates his plans—and opens the door to possibilities he never anticipated.
Written by and starring Noam Ash and directed by Mike Doyle, BOOKENDS beautifully balances humor and heartbreak while exploring the bonds that connect generations. The film celebrates resilience, chosen family, queer love, and the courage it takes to move forward when life doesn't go according to plan.
Featuring acclaimed performances by Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham, Caroline Aaron, Noam Ash, and Charlie Barnett, BOOKENDS premiered at the 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where it received the ADL Stand Up Award.
Critics have praised the film for its warmth, honesty, and emotional authenticity. Reviewer Mark McPherson called it "a heartfelt story of family and romance that is more honest than schmaltzy," while audiences have embraced its compassionate and uplifting portrait of caregiving, aging, and second chances.
Funny, tender, and life-affirming, BOOKENDS reminds us that even life's most difficult chapters can lead to unexpected joy.
Country: United States
Year: 2026
Runtime: 99 minutes
Language: English
Director: Mike Doyle
Writer: Noam Ash
Cast: F. Murray Abraham, Caroline Aaron, Noam Ash, Charlie Barnett
A post-screening conversation will follow in the FACETS lounge. Cocktails and concessions are available.
These monthly screenings celebrate bold, intimate, and internationally acclaimed queer cinema, bringing powerful stories to the big screen while creating space for conversation, community, and connection. Each program is thoughtfully curated to showcase filmmakers whose work explores identity, desire, family, memory, and human connection with honesty and artistry.
We often choose a nearby spot to gather for a casual, informal dinner before the screening, so keep your options open and watch for those details as the date approaches.
We hope you'll join us for an evening of compelling queer storytelling and shared cinematic experience.
Please register on the CPT website so we know you are coming—but also know that your ticket is not confirmed until you actually purchase one from Open Space Arts HERE! https://www.goelevent.com/OpenSpaceArts/e/Bookends
Tickets are not available through the FACETS website.