Holding the Man
A deeply tender Australian love story follows two men whose lifelong bond is tested by prejudice, separation, and the AIDS crisis.
Overview
A poignant exploration of love's endurance against all odds.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- tender
- melancholic
- sincere
- quiet evening
- date night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a moving true-story LGBTQ drama anchored by the tender, palpable chemistry between Ryan Corr and Craig Stott.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Tim and John remain together through separations, discrimination, temptations, jealousies, and HIV-related illness over fifteen years.
The couple's relationship develops before widespread AIDS awareness and is later reshaped by the epidemic and its consequences.
The plot explicitly includes discrimination and sexual prejudice confronting two men who fall in love at an all-boys school.
The story follows Tim and John from teenage romance through fifteen years of separations, reconciliation, illness, and loss.
Films like Holding the Man, and why
Weekend
shared LGBTQ romance, historical discrimination, and emotionally devastating relationship drama
A Perfect Ending
shared long-term queer love story, intimacy, illness, and poignant social context
The Normal Heart
shared AIDS-era LGBTQ drama, romantic commitment, and cathartic emotional intensity
Carol
shared sweeping same-sex romance, social prejudice, and bittersweet historical drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Neil Armfield
- Release Date
- 2015-08-27
- Runtime
- 128 min
- Rating
- 7.7 / 10 (470)
Cast
- Ryan Corr
- Craig Stott
- Guy Pearce
- Sarah Snook
- Anthony LaPaglia
- Geoffrey Rush
- Camilla Ah Kin
- Kerry Fox
- Tom Hobbs
- Jacob Collins-Levy
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Strand Releasing Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Holding the Man about?
- A deeply tender Australian love story follows two men whose lifelong bond is tested by prejudice, separation, and the AIDS crisis.
- What is Holding the Man like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Holding the Man as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Holding the Man violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Holding the Man.
- What did critics think of Holding the Man?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a moving true-story LGBTQ drama anchored by the tender, palpable chemistry between Ryan Corr and Craig Stott.
- Which films are like Holding the Man?
- Films with a similar feel include Weekend, A Perfect Ending, The Normal Heart, and Carol.
- How long is Holding the Man?
- Holding the Man runs 128 minutes.
- Where can I watch Holding the Man?
- In United States, Holding the Man streams on Strand Releasing Amazon Channel.
