Search - An Early Frost on DVD

I Can't Believe That Only 4 People Have Reviewed This Film!

T. Halkin | Munich, Germany | 07/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"We now have August of 2001, and I'm already angry at myself that I'm only getting around to seeing this 1985 milestone AIDS film today! I work in the television industry, and I must say that I feel proud that a major network like NBC had the guts to produce a film this sensitive and revolutionary for its time. It truly makes a valiant attempt (and succeeds for the most part) to make AIDS an every-day, living room topic without ever getting too sticky or maudlin about it. Even though this was really in the stone-age of AIDS, it's amazing how right-on it was in so many areas. The only thing that feels dated now, is the lack of therapeutic possibilities, which we have today, but my God, we just all lived through 20 years of Hell, and only now - recently - have a shimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. The writing team had great insight and foresight.That said, now the silly TV producer side of me needs to have it's say: I wish that the script had gone one round with a good dialog doctor. There are moments, where - despite the AMAZING cast - that I did have to cringe. It was always a matter of sticky dialog, but - believe me - not the heart, soul, or deeper truth of the piece. This film might be somewhat old, but it is still incredibly valid, and is heads-and-shoulders over most films of its genre. I'm sure that the executives at NBC who gave the green light for this production are long gone, but I raise my glass to you for your courage and for your vision. I hope that some day I feel the same way about the programs that I have worked on. Bravo!"

AMAZING TV MOVIE

iheartcrass | 06/25/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The first TV movie to deal with AIDS, this outstanding, thoughtful and undeniably powerful drama is about a young, successful gay lawyer who learns he is HIV-positive and decides to confront his family with both his sexuality and illness. Aidan Quinn gives a sensitive, commanding performance in the lead role and Gena Rowlands, Ben Gazzara and especially Sylvia Sydney offer strong support as, respectively, Quinn's mother, father and grandmother; and John Glover is remarkable as Victor, a dying AIDS patient. Get the tissues and get ready to cry! This movie is fantastic! I still can't believe it was made over 15 years ago. Just amazing!"

EXCELLENT - WELL AHEAD OF ITS TIME

iheartcrass | 07/19/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Considering that this was a television movie, made in the the relatively early stages of the epidemic, "An Early Frost" is especially impressive. Yes the scenes between the Lawyer and his boyfriend are awkward, but the performances are outstanding. Aidan Quinn, as Michael, has never been better and the late Sylvia Sidney is wonderful as his grandmother. Gena Rowlands is excellent as usual, but the most surprising performance comes from Ben Gazarra as Michael's father. As a tough, blue-collar disciplinarian, Gazarra is repulsed by his son's lifestyle but eventually accepts him. The best scene in the film, and the riskiest, is the confrontation between Michael and his father in the garage. Much better than later films such as "Philadelphia.""

Death as the ultimate revelation

Jacques COULARDEAU | OLLIERGUES France | 04/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This film on AIDS is still very strong today because we still don't have a cure to the disease and the treatments we have developed seem to make the younger generation careless. In this case the main character is gay and the film deals with the revelation of his gay-ness to his family and the subsequent difficulties the members of this family encounter to face this reality. What's more the prejudices against AIDS victims or patients are analyzed in full details and they seem to be tremendously horrible and horrifying, especially within the family, the father or the sister, and even among medical personnel, like ambulance drivers who refuse to take him to the hospital. Death is very well emphasized as the only possible end, but then the film is about rebuilding resistance and the will to survive in the patients who have to know that it is in vain, even if for a couple of years or even more they can go on doing things and bringing themselves up to the world and give the world their last achievements. An extremely emotional film...."