Watch Parting Glances

Parting Glances is a poignant romantic drama film from 1986 directed by Bill Sherwood. The movie stars John Bolger, Richard Ganoung, and Steve Buscemi in the lead roles. Set during the AIDS epidemic of the mid-1980s, the film explores themes of love, loneliness, and death with a deft touch. The story follows the lives of several New York City artists and their lovers over the course of 24 hours. The main character Michael (played by Ganoung) is a gay man who is about to leave for Africa to work for the US Agency for International Development. While he's away, his boyfriend Robert (played by Bolger) will be staying behind to sort out their relationship issues. As Michael prepares to depart, he spends time with his close friend Nick (played by Buscemi), who is also a musician.

Throughout the movie, the characters face the realities of living in a world where AIDS is rampant. They are constantly reminded that their time together may be limited due to this deadly disease, and this is a fact that hangs over their heads like a dark cloud.

The movie's strength comes from its raw and honest portrayal of life during the AIDS epidemic. Director Bill Sherwood himself was HIV-positive and passed away before the film's release. His experience, combined with the talents of the actors, makes for a powerful and moving portrayal of a community that was underrepresented on screen at the time.

At its core, Parting Glances is a movie about the search for meaning in the face of adversity. Michael, Robert, and Nick are all struggling to find their place in the world, and their relationships with each other are the only things that make their lives feel meaningful. The film is a moving tribute to the power of love and friendship to keep us going even during the toughest times.

The performances in the movie are outstanding. John Bolger brings a quiet intensity to his portrayal of Robert, a man who is trying to hold onto his relationship with Michael even as he's being pulled in multiple directions. Richard Ganoung's Michael is equally compelling, a man who is trying to do good in the world but is torn by his love for Robert. Steve Buscemi is fantastic as Nick, Michael's sarcastic friend who provides some much-needed levity in the midst of all the sadness.

One of the movie's standout scenes takes place at a party that Michael and Robert attend. The party is filled with people who are either HIV-positive or have lost loved ones to AIDS. The scene is a powerful reminder of the toll that the disease took on the community and the fear that everyone felt at the time.

Parting Glances is not only an important movie because of its subject matter, but also because it helped to pave the way for other LGBTQ films that followed. The movie was one of the first mainstream movies to deal with the AIDS epidemic, and it helped to raise awareness about the struggles that the LGBTQ community was facing.

At its core, Parting Glances is a powerful and moving movie that explores the human experience in the face of adversity. It's a testament to the strength of love and friendship in the toughest of times, and it's a movie that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Parting Glances is a 1986 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.