Longtime Companion [DVD]

I suppose many would consider Longtime Companion a period piece. For anyone, who like myself lived through this devastating period of darkness it's so much more. It's the story of what it was to be there, to see your beloved circle of friends wiped out in record numbers and record time.I was in college, living in Boston and can remember a tiny little article in the press about "Gay Cancer" and what was soon later refereed to as "Grid"More than 20,000 people had perished and still the government resisted the urging of the CDC to invest in research, public education and care. It wasn't until over 35,000 young men had died in searing agony - and a heterosexual woman with AIDS made the cover of Time Magazine that Reagan mentioned for the first time the word "AIDS".The world owes an incredible debt of thanks to Larry Kramer who founded GMHC (the gay men's health crisis) a grass roots organization that provided meals, legal assistance to fight ( the then legal) evictions of AIDS sufferers from their homes and negotiate with insurance companies.Now an enormous entity of services and a beacon of hope GMHC remains today one of the most significant, far reaching organizations dedicated to education and prevention of the HIV virus and AIDS in the world.The film brings all this to bear, without grandstanding or blame. But rather through a glimpse in to the lives of a close group of friend whose world and relationships are shattered and how the survivors are forever changed as they rise from the ashes.The cast is sensational in every respect, Bruce Davidson who is all to often terribly under rated turns in one of his finest performances, the scenes of him caring for his ailing partner are of the most quiet beauty and yet almost to painful to watch.Cambell Scott, Dermot Mulroney, Mary - Louis- Parker are all at the top of their game. In fact, Longtime Companion has been touted as one of the finest pieces of ensemble acting there is - and it deserves that accolade.No one performance carries the film, we get to know these characters, we care about them, we laugh with them and weep with them. That's powerful film making.Director Norman Rene moves the story along with a quiet grace, peppered with great humor and equally deep pain it is without question a masterful feat.This is of course the story of how - at this time in history Gay people were ignored and left to die.It's the story of how we fought back and how we took care of our own. But the message is universal. Any person regardless of whom they love, if they have the capacity to love they will be forever moved by Longtime Companion.For I think even more than it's very subject matter, this a story of hope and the triumph of the human spirit.

I was 6 when this movie came out, and someone in my family rented it. It was the first real representation of gay joy, and love, and grief I had ever seen on screen (and the seed of a lifelong crush on Mary Louise Parker). Never released on DVD here in the states, this Korean bootleg has terrible resolution and will only fill half of whatever screen you run it on, and I would buy it again in less than a heartbeat.

This movie is one of the best that reflects what so many of us experienced. No one knows the confusion and despair of that time except survivors. The seller however said there was only one copy left. So I bought it. Well there's still "only one copy left" which makes me question the seller.

This film is an intimate look into the lives of a group of Gay men in New York at a time when people knew each other by actual association because of Gay enclaves in the city and on Fire Island versus the more removed options for socializing we have today.It is a first rate production with compelling characters propelled by talented actors,writers,director and production. What is most interesting about this film is how far we have come societally because of the advancement of Civil Rights for LGBT people since the time of this story. Longtime Companion is a phrase borrowed from New York Times obituaries of a pre-liberation era that euphemized and minimized the full scope, depth and breadth of the love between romantic partners and good friends.Thank God we can be ourselves today and thank God we can live openly and without shame or stigma to be not only "Longtime Companions" but partners to each other and now even grooms and Husbands.(From Los Angeles).

At the time this film was release, it must have made a great impact since it was the first (or one of the first) films to treat the subject of AIDS and how it affected the homosexual community so adversely. However, after seeing "Angels in America," and more recently "The Normal heart," it drops a notch in impact, since the later two are more courageous in describing how the US government failed to protect the gay community for various infamous reasons. .

There are a great many gay themed films available today, but when Longtime Companion was released, it was but one of a small handful of films brave enough to paint gay characters with empathetic and intelligent brushstrokes - something that continues to beset filmmakers even today.Set during the late 70's and on into the 80's the film is a bare bones and ruthlessly truthful before-and-after portrait of the devastating effects of the AIDS virus on a small group of close friends/lovers and on the wider gay community. Very funny, extremely moving, occasionally upsetting, whether you are a gay viewer or not, this film is a courageous celebration of the strength and frailty of the human spirit.

I watched this film way after And the Band Played On, and despite taking place when HIV/ AIDS, this film had humorous moments and of course sad ones, but actually left me feeling more hopeful, regarding the possible cure. The cast does a very nice job dealing with their crisis as friends die all around and while it seems morbid at times, the meaning of friendship and love, is very well displayed. The ending is very uplifting here, but 'band' is anything but inspiring, making it clear that greed, fame and money is more important than saving lives. Funny, it's still like that now, to a point.

As a gay man, I remember the excitement and pride of coming out in the early 1980's, as well as the fear and near hysteria of the early days of the Aids epidemic. The love and compassion shared by close friends helped everyone to get by a little easier. "Longtime Companion" truly captured the essence of sharing both the compassion and great fear of that time period. Kudos to a film that never outgrows its message.

Back in the 80's the world declared a gay disease, HIV / AIDS, it was a time when worldwide gay communities feared an unknown evil disease that was taking so many lives and with no understanding as to what it was, or why was this happening and Predominately within the gay communities. Having nothing but theorys, about this Illness and fears, We all stood united against the world Prejudices and hatred towards the Gay Communities because of peoples own fears.This film demonstrates truth and Accuracy about the plight of just how people all over the world had to fight for things and deal with, being given an undated death certificate, with nothing that could save them. We watched helplessly as our loved ones, family members were taken from us. AZT a highly toxic drug was the only source of medication that was available, there really wasn't anything else back then, except a bond and a love within the gay communities all over the world who supported and gave as much as they could to help one another in anyway they could.A time to remember, how so many back then who lost their lives and with some who are still amongst us who are now long term surviors and companions in present day, who still face the chalenges of HIV.

LONGTIME COMPANION 1989 **/*** Norman Rene. This must have been very worthywhen it came out, as it is a gay film that deals fairly unrelentingly with the growth of AIDS in the early 80s. Its mise en scene operates in the form of a yearly diary on an interconnected group of gay men; as the aids epidemic takes hold gradually many of them succumb. Worthy the film is, but not very enjoyable, and since there are about 6-8 central characters it is quite difficult to follow. However there is one truly majestic scene when one of the characters, now with advanced full-blown aids, demented, emaciated, barely able to speak, begs to die and his lover/parter sooths him whilst giving him permission. This is a truly magnificently played scene. Interestingly Mary Louise Parker went on to play a significant part in Angels in America. Like this film, Angels was also an American Playhouse Production (Public Broadcasting Service) as was Tales of the City

This film manages to capture with admirable accuracy, a time not so long ago,when the AIDS epidemic was known as the gay cancer, and the virus was thought to infect homosexuals only. The caution with which those infected were treated shows just how little was known about HIV back in the early 1980s. Even hospital staff seemed to be uninformed. This was a new illness, and people did not know how to handle it. The cast is excellent, including Dermot Mulroney, Campbell Scott, and Bruce Davison. The look of the time, (some of those fashions look ridiculous now) and the soundtrack all fit well in showing a particular time and place. The film has many light-hearted moments,as well the expected sadness. An excellent effort.

As has been said elsewhere this was an early movie about the plague which changed so many lives. Sad, beautifully acted, truthful and honest it may seem dated to some but this is how it was.For many, and I count myself amongst them, AIDS back then changed our lives forever - the friends we lost, the scares we had,the memorial services, the hospital wards we visited, the times we lived in were unique in gay history.Watch and learn and remember, there is a reason why we should never forget. This film is made by everyone involved with deep sincerity and has its' very own special qualities.

Yes, this film is dated but it's a wonderful reminder of how we got through the AIDS crisis. Whilst the headlines were full of promiscuity and casual sexual acquaintance, this film explores the glue that held the gay community together: friendship, in its many forms and guises. It's moving and yet finds much to celebrate. It looks back with sadness and with joy