This film is based on Tim Conigrave's autobiographical book and its Austrailian stage adaption - Both the book and play were highly acclaimed -- I very much wanted the film to be as great -- While the movie depicts well the persoal struggles faced by many young gay men and the early years of the HIV/AIDS plague, when finished I had a feeling that something was missing -- The characterizations seemed flat -- I understood that Tim and John had a deep connection but was never quite sure why -- I understand, according to various reviewers' comments on the same feeling, that both the book and play somehow better dealt with it (suggesting that we should read the book) -- Nevertheless, this is an important film in the gay heritage lexion -- When those of us who lived through the period are dead, films such as Holding the Man will inform history --
† John is a fan of Austrailian rules football; Austrialian rules football bares little resemblance to American football; from watching the brief clips in the film, it appears to somewhat resemble the game we know as Rugby; however there are many differences -- "Holding the Man" is an "infringement" in Austrialian rules football; it is never explained in the movie, but the terminology would have been well known to Austrailians.