1985

Product Description

Having been gone for three years, closeted advertising executive Adrian (Cory Michael Smith, Gotham) returns to his Texas hometown for the holidays during the first wave of the AIDS crisis. Burdened with an unspeakable tragedy in New York City, Adrian looks to reconnect with his preteen brother Andrew (Aidan Langford) while navigating his relationship with religious parents Eileen (Academy Award Nominee Virginia Madsen) and Dale (Golden Globe Award Winner Michael Chiklis). When he reaches out to his estranged childhood friend Carly (Jamie Chung, The Gifted), their unresolved issues force Adrian to confront an uncertain future that will significantly alter the lives of those around him. Shot on black-and-white super 16mm film, “1985” takes a unique look at a pivotal moment in American history through the prism of empathy, love and family.

Review

Cory Michael Smith s performance as Adrian is a quiet marvel in a movie that s superbly acted all around. The film s intimate consideration of still-enormous issues is intelligent, surprising and emotionally resonant. –The New York Times

Chiklis is first-rate … while Madsen’s gentle, luminous portrayal … is heartbreakingly authentic and utterly award-worthy. –The Los Angeles Times

1985 feels like a missing minor classic from the decade that preceded the rise of the so-called New Queer Cinema. –RogerEbert.com