Parting Glances

Parting Glances
Parting Glances
	Film poster
Directed by	Bill Sherwood
Written by	Bill Sherwood
Produced by	Nancy Greenstein; Paul L. Kaplan; Yoram Mandel; Arthur Silverman
Starring	Richard Ganoung; John Bolger; Steve Buscemi; Adam Nathan; Kathy Kinney; Patrick Tull
Production; company	Rondo Productions
Distributed by	Cinecom Pictures
Release date	February 19, 1986;
Running time	90 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

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Parting Glances is a 1986 American drama film. The film was one of the first motion pictures to deal frankly and realistically with the subject of AIDS and the impact of the relatively new disease on the gay community in the Ronald Reagan era and at the height of the pandemic. It is considered by film critics an important film in the history of gay cinema. The story revolves around a gay couple facing the challenges of a long-distance relationship. The film was well-received for its detailed evocation of gay and gay-friendly urbanites in 1980s Manhattan.

The film's soundtrack includes the Bronski Beat songs "Love and Money," "Smalltown Boy" and "Why." First-time director Bill Sherwood died of complications due to AIDS in 1990.

Plot

Robert and Michael, a gay male couple in their late 20s, live in New York City. Robert is leaving for two years on a work assignment in Africa while his partner, Michael, stays behind. Michael's ex-boyfriend, Nick, for whom Michael cooks, looks after and still loves, has AIDS.

Over the next twenty-four hours, the story shifts between scenes taking place at a farewell party for Robert hosted by the couple's artist friend, Joan, and a dinner party hosted by Robert's employer, Cecil, and his wife, Betty, who have an unconventional marriage.

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 (credited as Bob Kohrherr) as Sam
Theodore Ganger as Klaus
Nada as Liselotte

Reception and legacy

Parting Glances gave Steve Buscemi his first major movie role. "It is to both his and the film's credit that the anguish of AIDS is presented as part of a larger social fabric, understood in context, and never in a maudlin light," said Janet Maslin in her New York Times review.^[1]^[2] Time Out London wrote “Sherwood brings a notable grace and droll humour to his story of two male lovers parting against the backdrop of a friend dying of the Big A.”^[3]

Preservation and restoration

In 2006, Outfest and the UCLA Film and Television Archive announced that the film would be the first to be restored as a part of the Outfest Legacy Project.^[4]

On July 16, 2007, as a part of the Outfest Legacy Project, a restored print of Parting Glances received its world premiere at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles. The four major stars of the film, Richard Ganoung, John Bolger, Steve Buscemi, and Kathy Kinney, were in attendance and participated in a panel discussion after the viewing.^[5]

The restoration print received its New York City premiere on October 29, 2007 at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.^[6]

References

^ Maslin, Janet (February 19, 1986). "NY Times Review, Screen: A couple's Parting Glances". The New York Times. Retrieved January 16, 2006.
^ "The Subversive 'Parting Glances' Was a Pioneer in AIDS Films". PopMatters. December 1, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
^ Ryll, Alexander. "Essential Gay Themed Films To Watch, Parting Glances". GayEssential. Gay Essential. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
^ "'Parting Glances' and 'Word Is Out' to be restored". The Advocate. August 30, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
^ "A 'Parting' reunion". The Advocate. July 19, 2007. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
^ Burns, Kenneth (October 26, 2007). "Madison's Richard Ganoung stars in the newly restored classic of gay cinema, "Parting Glances"". Isthmus | Madison, Wisconsin. Retrieved October 16, 2022.

External links

Parting Glances at IMDb
Parting Glances at AllMovie

[1] Maslin, Janet (February 19, 1986). "NY Times Review, Screen: A couple's Parting Glances". The New York Times. Retrieved January 16, 2006.

[2] "The Subversive 'Parting Glances' Was a Pioneer in AIDS Films". PopMatters. December 1, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2022.

[Ryll_2014-3] Ryll, Alexander. "Essential Gay Themed Films To Watch, Parting Glances". GayEssential. Gay Essential. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2015.

[4] "'Parting Glances' and 'Word Is Out' to be restored". The Advocate. August 30, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2022.

[5] "A 'Parting' reunion". The Advocate. July 19, 2007. Retrieved October 16, 2022.

[6] Burns, Kenneth (October 26, 2007). "Madison's Richard Ganoung stars in the newly restored classic of gay cinema, "Parting Glances"". Isthmus | Madison, Wisconsin. Retrieved October 16, 2022.

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