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Buddies (1985 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Buddies' is a 1985 American drama film. It is the first film to deal with the AIDS pandemic, preceding the television film 'An Early Frost' (also released in 1985). Directed by Arthur J. Bressan Jr., who died of complications from AIDS two years after the film was released, the film follows a New York City gay man in a monogamous relationship becoming a "buddy" or a volunteer friend to another gay man dying of AIDS and the friendship that develops. The film stars Geoff Edholm, David Schachter, Billy Lux, and David Rose.
Cast
* Geoff Edholm as Robert Willow
* David Schachter as David Bennett
* Damon Hairston as Gym instructor
* Joyce Korn as Lynn
* Billy Lux as Edward
* David Rose as Steve
* Libby Saines as Mrs. Bennett
* Susan Schneider as Sylvia Douglas
* Tracy Vivat as Nurse
History
The first widely released Hollywood film to deal with the HIV/AIDS pandemic within the United States was 'Longtime Companion' in 1989. While news reports about the pandemic began to appear in 'The New York Times' as early as 1981, the fact that many of the initial victims were gay or bisexual men contributed to how Hollywood and society responded. The long-standing taboo within Hollywood about depicting homosexuality played a large role in the refusal of the industry to cinematically deal with the pandemic, when it was initially treated as a "gay disease." 'The Celluloid Closet' book and documentary film tell the story of that time.
In response to the pandemic, and to Hollywood hypocrisy, Bressan wrote and directed the film 'Buddies' in 1985, and it was shown in a handful of urban, art house movie theaters.
A 2K restoration was released in 2018 on DVD. Screenings were held at San Francisco's Castro Theater (where it had premiered in 1985) on June 21, 2018, and at New York's Quad Cinema starting June 22, 2018.
References
*
*[https://www.today.com/popculture/how-hollywood-portrays-aids-wbna12856549 MSNBC "How Hollywood portrays AIDS"]
Category:1985 films
Category:American LGBT-related films
Category:Films directed by Arthur J. Bressan Jr.
Category:Gay-related films
Category:HIV/AIDS in American films
Category:1985 drama films
Category:1985 LGBT-related films
Category:American drama films
Category:LGBT-related drama films
Category:1980s English-language films
Category:1980s American films
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