Holding the Man
Goalpost Pictures (2015)
Biography, Drama, Queer Themes/Interest, Romance
In Collection
#404
7*
Seen ItYes
(9/19/2016 NetFlix)
IMDB   7.4
127 mins Australia / English
DVD 
Geoffrey Rush Barry
Anthony LaPaglia Bob Caleo
Guy Pearce Dick Conigrave
Kerry Fox Mary Gert Conigrave
Mitchell Butel Albion St Doctor
Kerry Walker Librarian in Lift
Lee Cormie Eric
Andrew S. Gilbert Father Wallbridge
Ron Falk Old Digger in Car
Jane Menelaus Doreen Hogan
Brian Lipson Father O'Malley
David Wood Drama Teacher Chook Hennessey
Tony Rickards Mr. O'Connell
Adam Morgan Bar Owner
Tom Hobbs Peter Craig
John Leary Helen the Barman
Ryan Corr Timothy Conigrave
Craig Stott John Caleo
Nick Masters Woody
Sarah Snook Pepe Trevor
Ngaire Dawn Fair Veronica
Luke Mullins Richard
Luke Christopoulos Chris Caleo
Kazim Kane Harry
Jacob Collins-Levy Andrew
Tessa de Josselin Anna Conigrave
Tegan Higginbotham Gina
Camilla Ah Kin Lois Caleo
Francesco Ferdinandi Italian Waiter
Josh Burton Derge
Director
Neil Armfield
Producer Rosemary Blight
Ben Grant
Writer/Composer Tommy Murphy
Timothy Conigrave
Cinematography Germain McMicking
Music Alan John


Tim and John fell in love while teenagers at their all-boys' high school. John was captain of the Austrailian rules football team, Tim an aspiring actor playing a minor part in Romeo and Juliet. Their romance endured for 15 years to laugh in the face of everything life threw at it - the separations, the discriminations, the temptations, the jealousies and the losses - until the only problem, HIV/AIDS, that love can't solve tried to destroy them.
Edition Details
No. of Discs/Tapes 1
Personal Details
Purchase Date 9/19/2016
Location Personal Library
Owner Deitz
Store Amazon.com
Purchase Price $27.15
Condition New
Tags HIV/AIDS, heritage
Links + Review: Big Gay Picture Show
- Review: Variety
- Review: The Guardian
‡ Wikipedia
Holding the Man at Core for Movies
IMDB
TheMovieDb.org
Rotten Tomatoes

Notes
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.