Longtime Companion (1990)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Norman René

Writer:

Craig Lucas (written by)

Release Date:

21 September 1990 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

Perhaps the first film to put a human face on the AIDS epidemic, Longtime Companion follows the lives...

Plot Keywords:

Disease | New York Times | Longtime Companion | Obituary | Fire Island

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Campbell Scott	...	Willy
Patrick Cassidy	...	Howard
John Dossett	...	Paul
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Lisa
Stephen Caffrey	...	Fuzzy
Tanya Berezin	...	Office Manager
Welker White	...	Rochelle
Michael Piontek	...	Office Worker
Joyce Reehling	...	Office Worker
Bruce Davison	...	David
Mark Lamos	...	Sean
Dermot Mulroney	...	John
Michael Schoeffling	...	Michael
Brian Cousins	...	Bob
Marceline Hugot	...	Soap Opera Reader

Runtime:

96 min (approx)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Fire Island, Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

American Playhouse

Trivia:

The title refers to the only way that newspapers at the time would allow a gay man's lover to be listed in an obituary.

Goofs:

Continuity: Willy comes out with a bottle of wine and holds it at the neck, pouring. When the camera changes for a closeup of the pouring he then holds it by the base of the bottle.

Quotes:

Fuzzy: What do you think happens when we die?
Willy: We get to have sex again.

Movie Connections:

References "Dynasty" (1981)

Soundtrack:

Things That Dreams Are Made Of

the tide is high ...

Blondie's hit record opens this early AIDS film, a kneejerk reaction to the hysteria that was happening in the world in the wake of so many deaths from what was still viewed as 'the gay plague'.

'Longtime Companion' centres on a group of friends who are affected by AIDS in various different ways - two are victims of the disease, while others survive to remember their friends with affection. There are one or two stereotypes here (the camp Fuzzy, who mimes to disco records), but in the main the characters are played with sensitivity (and a degree of humour): Bruce Davison, Mark Lamos, and Campbell Scott stand out from a good cast.

I particularly liked the moving and celebratory ending, a surreal segue which brings everyone together in a huge, joyous beach party where everyone is alive, in love, and together. This single scene says more about the effects of the AIDS epidemic than many other right-on scenes from more traditional films.