Parting Glances

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The late Bill Sherwood's quiet little 1986 feature film about the early days of AIDS has held up remarkably well, and it still seems much smarter and less sentimental than higher-profile "AIDS movies" such as Longtime Companion and Philadelphia. It focuses on a couple, Michael and Robert, during a 24-hour period in New York City, as they prepare for Robert's departure on a trip to Africa. Michael must encourage his HIV-positive friend and former lover Nick (Steve Buscemi) to attend Robert's going-away party (hosted by The Drew Carey Show's Kathy Kinney), meanwhile trying to get Robert to stop avoiding Nick, the gnarly lead singer of a punk band whose video MTV has put into current rotation. Sherwood basically follows Michael around town, as he visits a record store, gets pursued by a cute young cashier, has dinner with a married couple, criticizes Robert for his callousness, and tries to nursemaid Nick, whose defiance against convention, pity, and a couple of bathetic Don Giovanni-inspired nightmares makes him the firm moral center of the film, rather than a victim. As Robert gets ready to leave, Nick plays a prank on Michael to test his devotion. Sherwood keeps issues unresolved and his characters very much alive. It's therefore a shame he didn't live long enough to make more witty, intelligent films like this. --Robert Burns Neveldine

Customer Reviews:

The Best!.......2007-08-25

Fortunately I saw this film only after I had seen Long Time Companion. I say "fortunately" since at the time I felt, and still do, that Long Time Companion sort of white washed the subject -- perhaps because the writer and producer wanted it to appeal to a more mixed audience and perhaps because, at the time, they wanted to get it shown on PBS.

Then I saw Parting Glances and was wowed by it. It was brilliant!

Sadly, however, as far as I know it never really gained the following and, more importantly, the recognition it deserved. Seems to me the plaudits that all went to LTC should have gone to Parting Glances.

Parting Glances.......2006-08-15

A film now dated, but for the year (1985)was a bold subject and a bit far-fetched. But, it started to get the message across of the spreading of H.I.V. An enjoyable film nicely handled.

Parting Glances.......2006-08-12

This is an excellent film, a piece of pop culture making it history. The film effectively weaves vignettes of past, present and future attitudes regarding homosexuality into a cohesive docu-drama snapshot of where we have been, where we were(in the early 1980's) and where we hoped to be. This was the first time I saw Steve Buscemi and have enjoyed his charaters ever since. Kathy Kinney is great as well. I wish there were more appearances in later works by Adam Nathan, Richard Ganoung and John Bolger. This is a great film for those who want to experience a great bit of nostalgia.

A LOW BUDGET MARVEL!.......2006-01-13

Parting Glances is a bit of life forever immortalized on film. It is truly endearing and real. It's mid eighties NYC, gay young America and early AIDS all rolled into a witty, intelligent film about real characters with umph. Parting Glances is special little film that sticks with you forever. Richard Ganoung, who has rarely been seen since is a gem, as is a young Steve Buscemi. This is what it is like to be gay! Most gay themed films can't even come close to this genuine, low budget feature.

landmark gay feature film.......2005-10-27

Parting Glances is a landmark gay feature film that should be added to any film collection. This was the first film to have a gay character with AIDS. The characters don't strike me as being stereotyped. They appear just like every other person who has successfully assimilated into current society.

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