Spring Break
Filmmakers talk art, passion and undying love
Issue date: 11/20/08
Even for the relatively progressive group of friends they were in, being a gay couple in the 1960s and '70s was a hardship on its own. Even Isherwood's close friend, psychologist Evelyn Hooker who focused on homosexual relations, believed that the 30-year difference between the two men was extremely unhealthy. But Isherwood and Bachardy paid no attention to such prejudice and continued to live together blissfully. Nothing could shake their steadfast relationship. Even when famous actors (that were at one time Bachardy's idols), like Joseph Cotton, commented on his sexuality, Bachardy had the strength to ignore such judgments. This partnership was that of undeniable love and loyalty.
They were so much a part of each other that Bachardy, who was still developing as a man, began to take on many of Isherwood's characteristics, even adopting a British accent though he is from Southern California. Being somewhat in the shadow of Isherwood was another struggle he encountered, but eventually Bachardy began to make a name for himself, becoming more than simply Isherwood's boyfriend. Bachardy eventually went to art school and became a portrait artist, painting hundreds of portraits of Isherwood and many other celebrities. In archived footage, Isherwood raves about how proud he was of Bachardy, how happy he was to see him succeed. And many of Bachardy's portraits are shown throughout the film. It is this type of footage that truly exemplified their relationship.
Other relics of their romance were the letters and cartoons written to one another that included their secret characters, Cat and Horse, which respectively reflected Bachardy and Isherwood. These small drawings were made into short animated sequences that portrayed their love in yet another way - the way the couple privately viewed themselves. Though the film faced a problem of being overly immersed with solely Isherwood, Bachardy or just their work, it overcomes such troubles by intertwining each of their stories evenly. Bachardy's remarks are equally balanced by Michael York's reading of Isherwood's diaries.
They were so much a part of each other that Bachardy, who was still developing as a man, began to take on many of Isherwood's characteristics, even adopting a British accent though he is from Southern California. Being somewhat in the shadow of Isherwood was another struggle he encountered, but eventually Bachardy began to make a name for himself, becoming more than simply Isherwood's boyfriend. Bachardy eventually went to art school and became a portrait artist, painting hundreds of portraits of Isherwood and many other celebrities. In archived footage, Isherwood raves about how proud he was of Bachardy, how happy he was to see him succeed. And many of Bachardy's portraits are shown throughout the film. It is this type of footage that truly exemplified their relationship.
Other relics of their romance were the letters and cartoons written to one another that included their secret characters, Cat and Horse, which respectively reflected Bachardy and Isherwood. These small drawings were made into short animated sequences that portrayed their love in yet another way - the way the couple privately viewed themselves. Though the film faced a problem of being overly immersed with solely Isherwood, Bachardy or just their work, it overcomes such troubles by intertwining each of their stories evenly. Bachardy's remarks are equally balanced by Michael York's reading of Isherwood's diaries.
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