All's Well That Ends Well - But This Did Not (spoiler)

There was much to like about this film, but I wish the story had ended in some other way. I suppose I should have expected it, since it was based in the early '80's, but there are too many films that end the same way. And it's not that I am unsympathetic to the horror and pain of AIDS - I've lost several friends to the disease, including a lover. I've seen the story too many times, on the screen and in real life.

As the film begins, we had an engaging "coming of age" story, with some very attractive young men. Udo Kier was wonderful. But it would have been much more satisfying to follow Jake and Frank to a different destination.

I think the "protagonist's lover dies of AIDS" story has been told enough. What we need is more honest films showing young men who are not afraid to love each other - and don't end up dead because they're gay. This film started out that way, but finished in a very predictable and tired way.