Holding the Man

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Holding the Man

2015

2h 7m

Drama

Romance

Biography

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

In the 1970s, two teen boys in Australia fight all obstacles thrown their way and refuse to renounce the love they feel for each other.

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Critics Consensus

Heart-wrenching performances center Holding the Man, an achingly beautiful portrayal of love and death that may be too real for some.

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Alex Chambers

Little White Lies

Sometimes more Wikipedia bio than memoir.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 3, 2016

Full Review

Benjamin Lee

Guardian

The tale of a 70s schoolboy romance that blossoms into a relationship and is torn apart by the advent of HIV in the 80s.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 2, 2016

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David Parkinson

Empire Magazine

Sluggishly formulaic, this is a disappointingly superficial interpretation of an important book.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 2, 2016

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Ben Turner

The Pink Lens

In putting a human face on the AIDS Crisis, Holding The Man succeeds to a degree.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 2, 2021

Full Review

Alexander Ryll

Gay Essential

Based on Tim Conigrave's memoir of the same name, Holding The Man is the touching love story between aspiring actor and writer Conigrave and his partner of fifteen years John Caleo.

Sep 15, 2019

Full Review

Bertie Archer

One Room With A View

A true team effort, co-captained by Coor and Stott and expertly directed by Armfield. Holding The Man tackles a big issue in a delicate yet unflinching manner.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 2, 2019

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Oaklee D

A charming yet heartbreaking true love story.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/06/25

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Kylie S

Beautiful and heartbreaking movie, loved it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/05/23

Full Review

PridePosterStudios

Didn’t cry- wept. No notes, just tissues.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/09/24

Full Review

Justin J

This is amazing movie! Not only based on a true story but written by one on the people in the story. It is an emotional roller coaster of feelings from beginning to end.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Biografia linda, inicialmente me incomodou a idade e aspecto dos atores para a fase inicial (adolescência) muito mais velhos, nem tanto (25), mas com o decorrer percebi a necessidade diante das cenas linda de sexo, perfeito (sexy, sem sem vugar, hehe), mas poderia ter usado jovens atores com a mesma química, que aqui esta perfeita, assim como a ambientação, o tema me toca profundamente, como simpatizante, apesar de intenso, o preconceito em menor escala aqui, mas igualmente difícil, emocionante...

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

cinephile f

Just a lovely film. I was on the verge of tears watching it. It's a beautiful story and very well acted and I appreciate that one of the lead actors is actually gay in his personal life.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Neil Armfield

Director

Sarah Snook

Pepe Trevor

Guy Pearce

Dick Conigrave

Geoffrey Rush

Barry

Anthony LaPaglia

Bob Caleo

Ryan Corr

Timothy Conigrave

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Synopsis

In the 1970s, two teen boys in Australia fight all obstacles thrown their way and refuse to renounce the love they feel for each other.

Director: Neil Armfield
Producer: Kylie Du Fresne
Screenwriter: Tommy Murphy
Genre: Drama, Romance, Biography, LGBTQ+
Original Language: Australian English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 23, 2016
Runtime: 2h 7m

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