One of the most stirring American fiction films to deal with the AIDS crisis, Longtime Companion is an exceptional look into the lives of a group of gay friends and how the disease affects them, both collectively and individually. Beginning in 1981 at Fire Island and ending in 1989, the film charts the change in the characters, from carefree, innocents enjoying the sexual freedoms, to men numbed by suffering, forced to cope with the death of lovers and friends, and mobilised into action. There is a terrific ensemble cast, including Campbell Scott and Dermot Mulrooney, but Bruce Davidson must be given a special mention for his superlative protrayal of the lover who slowly watches his longtime companion succumb. Simplistic, maudlin and too rich, white and male for some, the film’s message of love, support and hope overshadow these faults.