Gay blogs have been atwitter because of the marketing of the new film, A Single Man. The directorial debut of openly gay designer Tom Ford (formerly of Gucci) and based on the book by openly gay author Christopher Isherwood, A Single Man is about a man coping with the death of his male lover.

So why does the poster downplay the central issue, instead featuring stars Colin Firth and Julianne Moore lying side by side on a downy white bed?

Perhaps responding to a weaker than expected limited opening, the film’s distirbutor, The Weinstein Company, has released a set of stills and a new trailer that are more specific about the relationship Firth’s character is mourning.

Ford spoke publicly about wanting to direct when he left Gucci in 2004. He acquired the rights to A Single Man, which Isherwood considered the best of his novels, about a year ago.

A Single Man opened to generally good reviews and is playing locally at the Fox Tower. Watch Ford answer audience questions after a screening of his film at the Toronto Film Festival here.