Parting Glances

I gave this movie four stars partly because I think five stars should be saved for really amazing, original, breathtaking movies -- something like Heathers or Being John Malkovich. There are, in my opinion, weaknesses in the script and production (the Fire Island prank at the end needs work, for instance), which hurt the movie as a whole.

But that doesn't mean I don't love Parting Glances, it's still one of my favorite movies, and holds up very well under re-watching. I suspect that most people who feel about a movie the way I feel about this one would rate it 5 stars, so take it that way if you wish.

I don't see this film as being about a breakup, but it's ambiguous enough that it could be, so I won't quibble. But I must disagree with folks who say how nice it would be if Sherwood had only lived long enough to make another movie. He had the time, but couldn't raise the money. I remember reading an interview with him somewhere, in which he told of getting calls from closeted Hollywood personnel who admired the film and were willing to throw him some closeted work - which he wasn't willing to do. If he didn't make another movie, it's as much because of the cowardice of the movie business (hence the joke I borrow from Demme's cowardly Philadelphia) as because of Sherwood's untimely death.


The First, The Best   April 14, 2005
Lee Hanson (Norfolk, VA United States)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

Parting Glances is simply an exhilerating film experience. Almost everyone in this film has gone on to successful acting careers. It is heartfelt, beautifully written, gracefully filmed and edited, and filled with powerful emotions. Rarely have I seen a film of any type that has the emotional resonance of this film (I think of powerful films such as Cries and Whispers, Fanny and Alexander, Zeferelli's Romeo and Juliet, Nights of Cabiria, Hannah and Her Sisters, and others that have great emotional impact like Parting Glances).

Granted this is not Bergman, Allen, Fellini, but the emotional impact ranks with films created by those extraordinary directors.

I have watched this film many times over the years since I saw it opening week. It's never lost it's impact and I am greatful to have it in my collection of films that are in my library to help and put life in perspective.

This is a great little movie.


A LOW BUDGET MARVEL!   January 13, 2006
Bailey (Raleigh, NC)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

Parting Glances is a bit of life forever immortalized on film. It is truly endearing and real. It's mid eighties NYC, gay young America and early AIDS all rolled into a witty, intelligent film about real characters with umph. Parting Glances is special little film that sticks with you forever. Richard Ganoung, who has rarely been seen since is a gem, as is a young Steve Buscemi. This is what it is like to be gay! Most gay themed films can't even come close to this genuine, low budget feature.


This was the first one!   July 24, 2000
Robert Holliston (Victoria, B.C. Canada)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

It's talky and writerish, it's New York-centric. Some of the performances are amateurish (especially John Bolger as Robert). But it's also quirky and interesting and touching, and Parting Glances was probably the first movie to address AIDS in a non-patronizing way. Aside from seeing future stars Steve Buscemi and Kathy Kinney in their earliest film performances, you can experience wonderful work from Richard Ganoung. It was a great loss when director Sherwood died of AIDS the year after this film was released. He obviously recognized that there is comic potential in every human situation, no matter how dire. Not for everyone, but what movie is?