MovieChat Forums > And the Band Played On (1993) Discussion > Films on the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s

Films on the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s

posted 11 years ago by angelofvic
22 replies | jump to latest

I'd like to list the films which cover the AIDS epidemic, especially the 1980s.

Please add any that I have not listed here:

And the Band Played On (1993)

We Were Here (2011) imdb.com/title/tt1787837

This lovely, warm-hearted documentary is now on Netflix, Amazon Instant and Prime, and DVD. Here is the Amazon Instant link: amazon.com/gp/product/B007VG24HS

Longtime Companion (1989) imdb.com/title/tt0100049

Angels in America (2003) imdb.com/title/tt0318997

Others?
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[–] puirt-a-beul 11 years ago

Hi angel, I'd agree We Were Here was open-hearted, honest and very human, but I also found it awesomely sad and sobering.

A similar documentary is How to Survive a Plague, made in 2012. This one is based in New York, and tells about the formation of groups like ACT UP and the New York community's response to the epidemic – political, financial and social.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] angelofvic 11 years ago

Thanks I've heard of that one; thanks for mentioning it. I'll add it to the OP later on!
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[–] taylorje 11 years ago

Not sure if "Philadelphia" starring Tom Hanks was 80's or 90's, but good anyway.

[–] angelofvic 11 years ago

It was the 80s; good call. I think I was thinking about putting it in the OP but I may have neglected it for some reason.
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[–] WarpedRecord 11 years ago

I very much recommend "Parting Glances" from 1986, a very sweet slice-of-life film with Steven Buscemi in a crucial early role as a man with AIDS wrapping things up. It's not nearly as downbeat as it sounds:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091725/combined

Also "It's My Party" from 1996 (seems earlier) with Eric Roberts doing the same:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113443/combined

[–] angelofvic 11 years ago

Thanks, those sound good.
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[–] lambiepie-2 10 years ago

The Ryan White Story
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098237/combined

As Is
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088741/combined

An Early Frost (groundbreaking and often referred to as one of the first films to focus on the epidemic)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089069/combined

And then there was One
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109115/combined

Go Towards the Light (about a child with AIDS)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095225/combined

There are some other ones starring many of the stars of the 80s and 90s where AIDS are interwoven into stories (I remember one with Ann-Margaret about her son and even Molly Ringwald did one) but these are the ones to add to this one (which I loved), Longtime Companion (which was so heartbreaking), Love!Valor!Compassion, of course the Greg Louganis story, Liberace (the TV movie as well as the new one), Pedro (the young man on The Real World on MTV)..and Philadelphia.

It knows what scares you. It has since the very beginning.

[–] angelofvic 10 years ago

Thanks very much lambie; I'll check into those when I have a minute. Much appreciated.
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[–] gunshotwound 10 years ago

[–] angelofvic 10 years ago

Thanks, G.

(By the way, not asking for films from the 1980s, but rather particularly about the 1980s, no matter when made.)
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[–] 10 years ago

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[–] angelofvic 9 years ago

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Thanks very much, ase! I forgot they made a film of that play last year. I haven't seen it.
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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] angelofvic 9 years ago

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Thanks ase, I put it on my Watch list.
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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] angelofvic 9 years ago

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Will try to ... I really like Matt Bomer -- I now remember he is the wonderful star of White Collar; plus he's gay. Sounds really good.
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[–] angelofvic 9 years ago

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Hey, I just watched it. Really tremendous! Bomer and Ruffalo were excellent. (Great protagonist casting with Ruffalo -- he carries off that balance between heartfelt caring and outrage/rage perfectly.) I also thought Julia Roberts was great, and Alfred Molina, and the Big Bang Theory guy Jim Parsons (who thankfully has come out as gay), and really the whole cast was very fine.

Thanks for encouraging me to watch it.

Excellent history lesson too, on what went on behind the scenes in the 1980s regarding AIDS/HIV.
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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] CheshireCatsGrin 8 years ago

United In Anger: A History of ACT UP! (2012)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2085974/

[–] baileythedog 8 years ago

How to Survive a Plague -- was nominated for Academy Award for best documentary feature a few years back.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2124803/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

When I was in college I was taking some leadership class and we were assigned to watch the movie "The Long Walk Home." I accidentally picked up "Longtime Companion" instead at Blockbuster. Man, I was mess after finishing that movie.

[–] angelofvic 8 years ago

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Thanks bailey. I have that on my Watch list but I haven't watched it yet.
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