Longtime Companion

At the time of Longtime Companion's release in 1990, the devastating disease of AIDS was seen as a mysterious and deadly scourge, replete with rumors, lies, and panic. As the first narrative film to examine the AIDS epidemic, screenwriter Craig Lucas and director Norman René place the disease in an ...more

Aside from the regrettably little-seen Buddies (1985) and Parting Glances (1986), Longtime Companion (1990) was the first feature film to deal explicitly with AIDS. At the time of its release, few filmmakers had examined the impact of AIDS on those living and dying with the disease. Feature films about gay men were still a rarity, and films about gay men with AIDS were non-existent. Although the film has been criticized for its focus on white, upper-class men, it uses this comfortable insularity ...more