A modern version of Plato’s work exploring the definition of love, THE SYMPOSIUM’s storyline closely matches that of the 2,500 year old dialogue, and the characters' opinions of love are almost exactly as Plato outlined them. A teacher and writer, Thomas, hosts a party for colleagues to celebrate his recent play. A disagreement unfolds about what the play meant ‘on a deeper level,’ and as they begin to explore its meaning, another guest suggests that he’s not surprised that they can’t agree. The basic concepts we take for granted aren’t as clear in our minds as we believe: jealousy, anger, love – Everyone protests, claiming that love is easy to define, so he proposes a contest: each of them has to give a definition of what love is: the winner gets a weekend in the best bed in breakfast in town. In the course of their discussion, everyone finds a secret revealed: about past and present lovers, lost children, infidelities, and even suppressed desires. The revelations turn out to be so explosive that one of the participants may not survive. . . Drawing inspiration from films like ROPE, MY DINNER WITH ANDRE, and WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, THE SYMPOSIUM was shot in 24 frame miniDV during ten days on Oahu.
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