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An Early Frost [1985] (REGION 1) (NTSC)


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Issues, Issues, Issues
Review date: 2007-12-02 Rating: 10 out of 10

This groundbreaking 1985 movie directed by John Erman won 4 Emmys (it was nominated for 14) and a Golden Globe for its very accurate, informative and powerful portrayal of what it meant to receive an AIDS diagnosis back in the early 80s. Though others followed shortly after, ("Philadelphia", "And the Band Played On", "Longtime Companion", "A Mother's Prayer", "Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis Story"), this was really the first major movie to confront the issue head on. I came across it on one of those lifestyle cable channels a few months ago. You know the kind; the kind that's up there in the high hundreds, the kind that only desperate housewives, the terminally unemployed, people skiving off work or people with no social lives watch. (Guess which category I fit into). As usual, I caught it halfway through but I found the subject matter so intriguing; I knew I had to get the DVD.

Michael (played by Aidan Quinn) is a successful lawyer; he just got made partner but he's forced to tell his parents that he is gay and living with another man when he finds out he has AIDS. The movie details how his family grapples with this devastating news. For them, it's shattering on two fronts: for one, it begins to dawn on them that dreams they had for their child will now never be realised and that secondly, he is most certainly going to die before they do. We watch as both parents ponder - how does one's own child grow into someone one barely knows? Someone one knows next to nothing about?

There are some very good performances here, particularly from Quinn himself, from Ben Gazzara who plays the part of Nick, Michael's dad (his disgust at learning of his son's homosexuality is almost palpable), from John Glover who plays the irrepressible Victor DiMato and from Sylvia Sidney who plays Bea, Michael's darling but tough old bird of a grandmother. (Also to look out for is "Lost" star Terry O'Quinn - when he still had hair!)

It's totally an 80s movie but while the clothes, cars and interior décor are all of their time, the issues raised here are just as relevant today as they were 22 years ago. I'm talking about the ignorance, shame, stigma, fear, rejection, homophobia and all manner of prejudice (even among healthcare professionals who really ought to know better) that are all part of the package of life for anyone who is gay and/or living with HIV. Advancements in medical treatments mean that an HIV diagnosis does not necessarily mean an AIDS diagnosis is imminent and it certainly doesn't necessarily equate to a death sentence any more - at least not if you're lucky live in the developed world - but all these issues are still very much with us.

Anyway, it's definitely worth a look even if it's to see what the issues are. Like I said at the top, the information is surprisingly accurate and up to date considering when the movie was made and there are even subtitles (or closed captioning, as it's known in the US) for anyone wishing to take notes. I certainly did and I thought I knew all I needed to know about the subject. The movie is heavily sanitised for a mainstream audience though and the two lovers barely touch. Hardly realistic but I guess I can understand why.

DVD extras include a theatrical trailer, commentary with Aidan Quinn and associate producers Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman (who also wrote the screenplay) and a harrowing but very honest and matter-of-fact 1986 documentary called "Living with AIDS" about a young man from San Francisco called Todd Coleman. Todd died of AIDS aged only 21 and the documentary tells of the various friends, loved ones, professionals and volunteers who cared for him up until his untimely death.

All in all, a very entertaining movie and worthwhile DVD to have.

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Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Aidan Quinn
Gena Rowlands
Ben Gazzara
Sylvia Sidney
D.W. Moffett

Creators:
Gena Rowlands (Primary Contributor)
Ben Gazzara (Primary Contributor)
Art Seidel (Producer)
Daniel Lipman (Producer)
Daniel Lipman (Writer)
Perry Lafferty (Producer)
Ron Cowen (Producer)
Ron Cowen (Writer)
Sherman Yellen (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Wolfe Video
Manufacturer: Wolfe Video
EAN: 0754703762603
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Closed-captioned, Colour, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC,
Release date: 2006-07-18
Universal product code (UPC): 754703762603
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1985-11-11
Language: English (Original Language)

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