The Rectangular View

The Story:

Parting Glances is a romantic comedy set in New York City in the 1980s. Robert and Michael are in a long-term relationship, but Robert is leaving to work in Africa for two years while Michael stays in New York City. The film takes place on the day before Robert is set to leave, and involves the two men interacting with friends, having dinner, a bon voyage party, and a night on the town.

Steve Buscemi plays Nick, Michael’s closest friend. Nick’s a rock and roll star whose career was cut short because he’s HIV positive, which was a death sentence in the 1980s. Nick spends most of his time planning for his death with a darkly sharp sense of humor. While Robert avoids visiting Nick, Michael tends to him like a mother hen. Michael and Nick share a closeness that hints at the love they have for each other. The feelings come across as honest, and make you wonder if they could have ever been more than friends.

Parting Glances does a great job showing how people discussed AIDS and their secret fears of contracting the disease. It does this with style and grace, knowing exactly how deep it needs to get before it becomes too heavy for a lightly romantic film.

Kathy Kinney plays Joan, a struggling New York artist who is friends with both Michael and Robert. She throws a surprise bon voyage party for Robert full of shared friends, performance artists, and a twink who has the hots for Michael. The scene’s where Michael and Joan talk about friendships, love, and AIDS are heartfelt, intimate, and absorbing.

There are so many scenes in Parting Glances where people simply interact that feel so natural that you get lost in them. Early in the film, Michael and Robert have dinner with Robert’s boss, Cecil and his wife, Betty, that helps define all the characters, yet plays off as light, enjoyable conversation.

It helps that Parting Glances was filmed in the 1980s, which has a very specific look and can’t be taken for any other decade. It was a contemporary film when it came out, but today it plays as a period piece. From the lack of cell phones and computers, shopping for music at a record store, to the New York art scene, it’s all on display and makes for a wonderful diversion.

Final Thoughts:

The acting is decent, especially for a low budget gay movie made in 1986, the cinematography works, and the story is delightful. It’s perfect for a rainy day or watching with friends. It truly is a must-see. Parting Glances was written and directed by Bill Sherwood, who died from AIDS complications four years after its release. He was thirty-seven.