Holding the Man (2015)

Tim and John fell in love while teenagers at their all-boys high school. John was captain of the football team, Tim an aspiring actor playing a minor part in Romeo and Juliet. Their romance... See full summary »

Director:

Neil Armfield

Writers:

Tommy Murphy (screenplay), Timothy Conigrave (book)

Stars:

Ryan Corr, Sarah Snook, Francesco Ferdinandi

6 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ryan Corr	...	Timothy Conigrave
Sarah Snook	...	Pepe Trevor
Francesco Ferdinandi	...	Italian Waiter
Craig Matthew Stott	...	John Caleo (as Craig Stott)
Lee Cormie	...	Eric
David Woods	...	Drama Teacher Chook Hennessey
PiaGrace Moon	...	Prue
Tegan Higginbotham	...	Gina
Josh Burton	...	Derge (as Joshua Burton)
Andrew S. Gilbert	...	Father Wallbridge
Mason Viola	...	Paul Caleo (15 years)
Anthony LaPaglia	...	Bob Caleo
Camilla Ah Kin	...	Lois Caleo
Luke Christopoulos	...	Chris Caleo (13 years)
Kerry Fox	...	Mary Gert Conigrave

Storyline

Tim and John fell in love while teenagers at their all-boys high school. John was captain of the football team, Tim an aspiring actor playing a minor part in Romeo and Juliet. Their romance endured for 15 years to laugh in the face of everything life threw at it - the separations, the discrimination, the temptations, the jealousies and the losses - until the only problem that love can't solve tried to destroy them.

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Plot Keywords:

gay | aids | gay kissing | gay rights | male frontal nudity | 

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Taglines:

A love story for everyone

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 August 2015 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Ne engedd el

Filming Locations:

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Screen Australia, Goalpost Pictures, Snow Republic

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Guy Pierce who plays Tim's conservative father in this film portrayed a flamboyant drag queen In another Australian film The Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert.

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Goofs

In 1985, as Tim interviews an HIV patient named Richard, a copy of OUT magazine is seen on the table under the tape recorder. OUT was first published in 1992.

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Quotes

Timothy Conigrave: [to John] I should have worked harder to make you come.
[Girls laugh]
Timothy Conigrave: Is there a problem?
[Girls laugh harder]

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Crazy Credits

There is a snippet of a recording with writer Tim Conigrave, and a photo of Tim and John together, after the last film credit.

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Connections

References 9 to 5 (1980)

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Soundtracks

Forever and a Year
Written and Performed by Rufus Wainwright

User Reviews

Powerful piece of Aussie cinema and Queer Cinema all in one amazing movie

I really really liked this movie! It was a relentless and at times confronting experience, but proof positive that storytelling when it is steeped in such truth and such life experience, in the hands of brilliant storytellers results in exemplary cinema. Neil Armfield has long been a leading light in Australian theatre, and I had nearly forgotten his feature 'Candy' with Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish, but was reminded of it, as I sat spellbound by the performances in 'Holding The Man' and its expert direction and attention to detail. Being in the audience for this movie, I felt safe in the hands of a master director. Ryan Corr, best known for the small screen like 'Packed to the Rafters' is a revelation; throwing himself head first into this leading role and intrepidly going where I suspect few actors might go. Craig Stott was a discovery for me, and although I struggled with some of the early scenes and wardrobe choices, his performance was realised as a truly moving and career making turn. Lots of great actors in supporting roles and cameos including the hilarious Kerry Walker in a blink and you'll miss it part. There's lots of humour, lots of pathos and lots of sexual activity which is thoughtfully and bravely brought to the screen. This is a must see experience, a story that needed to be told and has honoured the actor/writer Timothy Conigrave in so doing. Aussie filmmaking at its very finest.