Longtime Companion

Director(s): Norman Rene
Writer(s): Craig Lucas
Producer(s): Lydia Dean Pilcher, Stan Wlodkowski
Starring: Campbell Scott, Mary-Louise Parker, Stephen Caffrey, Dermot Mulroney, Bruce Davison

Craig Lucas' stage play is translated to the screen in this ensemble film featuring some of today's biggest stars before they were big. Starting in July of 1981, this film documents the lives of a small group of friends living in New York during the media coverage of the outbreak of AIDS. As the years go by, their path in life takes them on several twists and turns, losing many loved ones along the way.

What can I say? If you've ever seen "Silverlake Life", you know how truly powerful the subject of AIDS is when brought to the big screen. This film made me realize, just how devastating the AIDS outbreak was on our community. I've always thanked god for being healthy. And I've always considered myself fortunate for having healthy friends. I grew up thinking that the AIDS epidemic was behind our community and we are making strides in medical research to prevent deterioration from HIV and AIDS. After seeing this film, i've realized that the epidemic is in no way over and that i've been living a sheltered life by not having friends afflicted by this disease. It is thanks to films like this one that keeps the topic of AIDS and the victims that have died from it from being completely forgotten. It is films like this one that remind me why I got into the business.

The ensemble cast does an excellent job of showing how devastating AIDS was to all walks of life and what is has done to those who've witnessed many of their friends and family die from it. The cast also does an wonderful job of uniting to form a powerful message from Hollywood to the world drawing attention to something that is often times viewed as just a gay disease. The film's ending got me thinking, what will we do when the cure is found? Will it be a big reunion of family and friends who've past on? Or will it be the remaining generations paying homage to those who've died and helped to find a cure to this disease that has taken some many?