Parting Glances, the stunning debut of writer-director Bill Sherwood, tackles AIDS, an urgent issue that could not have been ignored in a film made about gay life in the 1980s, set in New York City.
The first American (independent) film to address the AIDS pandemic, “Parting Glances” is, unfortunately, the only film completed by the gifted Bill Sherwood, who had died of AIDS complications in 1990.
Our Grade: A- (**** out of *****)
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On Monday, July 16, 2007 as a part of the Outfest Legacy Project, a restored print of Parting Glances received its world premiere at the Director’s Guild of America in Los Angeles. The four major stars of the film, Richard Ganoung, John Bolger, Steve Buscemi and Kathy Kinney were all in attendance, and participated in a panel discussion after the viewing.
The restoration print received its New York City premiere on October 29, 2007 at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
The film’s soundtrack includes Bronski Beat songs “Love and Money,” “Smalltown Boy” and “Why.”
Cast
Richard Ganoung as Michael
John Bolger as Robert
Steve Buscemi as Nick
Adam Nathan as Peter
Kathy Kinney as Joan
Patrick Tull as Cecil
Yolande Bavan as Betty
Andre Morgan as Terry
Richard Wall as Douglas
Jim Selfe as Douglas’s Sidekick
Kristin Moneagle as Sarah
John Siemens as Dave
Bob Koherr as Sam
Theodore Ganger as Klaus
Nada as Liselotte
Credits:
Directed and written by Bill Sherwood
Produced by Nancy Greenstein, Paul L. Kaplan, Yoram Mandel, Arthur Silverman
Production company: Rondo Productions
Distributed by Cinecom Pictures
Release date: February 19, 1986
Running time: 90 minutes