Ultraviolet is a romantic drama film targeted towards everyone over 17 but specifically towards the LGBT community. The film is set in Manhattan during the 1970s when homosexuality was still a taboo topic. The film begins with two parallel scenes, one showing a normal day in the life of Kris. Kris is a student in Manhattan. He is smart and enjoys doing work, but he is a bit lonely since he hasn’t really made a friend since moving to the city. He is openly gay and loves music, although at this point he only sees it as a hobby. Ryan is a father of one who lives in Brooklyn with his wife in a not-so-happy marriage. The relationship between the couple has been getting worse. The two don’t have a lot in common, and they don’t connect through the same emotions anymore. Ryan loves playing music, and plays around Brooklyn in a few gigs and bars. He is a bit sexually confused. He didn’t think about questioning his sexuality until he meets Kris. Once he meets him, Ryan becomes much more timid.
Kris hears of this small gig that Ryan is playing at in Brooklyn and goes over to check it out by himself. He sees Ryan play, thinks he’s cute, but moves on. They later meet by chance outside, as Ryan goes out for a cigarette. They get to talking and their bond begins to form. They share a joint and go their separate ways, unknowingly repressing their sexual desires.
Another day, Kris is selling some records at the local flea market. Ryan arrives to check out the records and locks eyes with Chris, who decide to hang out again after this strange coincidence. While walking around, it is apparent that the two are secretly flirting with and falling for each other. To Ryan, Kris offers a feeling of innocence and youth, qualities that his wife does not possess. Ryan is also attracted to Kris’ infatuation with music and records, two things his wife knows nothing about. Ryan is still usually bombarded with naggy impatient texts from his wife. All this spurs him on to proceed with his affair.
Once the two admit their crushes on each other, they consummate. They start hanging out with each other in secret, away from Ryan’s wife. Ryan starts to teach Kris how to play guitar and write songs, while Kris introduces Ryan to some of his favorite records, and he loves them. Every time they publicly express their feelings toward each other, they are met with dirty looks from people who condemn the gay relationship as well as the age difference.
Therefore they decide to start meeting on the Brooklyn Bridge in private. The Brooklyn Bridge serves as a symbol for the private love the two of them hold for each other. The bridge serves as the halfway home between their two islands of Brooklyn and Manhattan. They meet in the middle of the night so that no bystanders or walkers can see them express their love for each other. These meetings evoke the grandest feelings of romanticism between the two, and their bond becomes stronger. Ryan comes to realize that he is happier when he is around Kris than when he is with his wife. Ryan decides to follow his heart and pursue their relationship. He leaves his wife and child, and he begins his new relationship with Kris.
