A Secret Love
An intimate archival portrait of Pat Henschel and baseball player Terry Donahue’s enduring love across decades of secrecy and social change.
Overview
A poignant exploration of love that defies societal norms and prejudice.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- tender
- heartfelt
- wistful
- reflective evening
- lgbtq+ history viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly view the film as a heartfelt, naturalistic, and understatedly powerful tribute to lifelong devotion, while noting concerns about how its framing handles homophobia.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Pat Henschel and Terry Donahue recount their relationship alongside old photographs and footage spanning decades.
The couple's love begins in 1947 and continues through 65 years of navigating prejudice and concealment.
The film situates Pat and Terry's relationship within the social pressures surrounding lesbian identity across the twentieth century.
Critics describe the film as heartfelt, tender without cloying, and an understated tribute to enduring devotion.
Films like A Secret Love, and why
The Times of Harvey Milk
intimate documentary portrait of a long-term queer relationship shaped by secrecy, prejudice, and family bonds
How to Survive a Plague
tender lgbtq+ documentary storytelling centered on love, identity, and social prejudice
Disclosure
emotionally direct documentary about queer lives, cultural stigma, and personal testimony
Stories We Tell
warm, archival relationship portrait exploring devotion across decades and changing social attitudes
Movie Details
- Director
- Chris Bolan
- Release Date
- 2020-04-06
- Runtime
- 82 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (135)
Cast
- Terry Donahue
- Pat Henschel
- Diana Bolan
- Kim Donahue
- Tammy Donahue
- Jack Xagas
- John Byrd
- Yvonne Zipter
- Marge Summit
- Tracy Baim
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is A Secret Love about?
- An intimate archival portrait of Pat Henschel and baseball player Terry Donahue’s enduring love across decades of secrecy and social change.
- What is A Secret Love like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of A Secret Love as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is A Secret Love violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in A Secret Love.
- What did critics think of A Secret Love?
- Critics broadly view the film as a heartfelt, naturalistic, and understatedly powerful tribute to lifelong devotion, while noting concerns about how its framing handles homophobia.
- Which films are like A Secret Love?
- Films with a similar feel include The Times of Harvey Milk, How to Survive a Plague, Disclosure, and Stories We Tell.
- How long is A Secret Love?
- A Secret Love runs 82 minutes.
- Where can I watch A Secret Love?
- In United States, A Secret Love streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
