1985

1985 is a poignant drama film directed by Yen Tan, released in 2018. Starring Cory Michael Smith, Virginia Madsen, and Michael Chiklis, the film explores the complex climate of social attitudes towards homosexuality during the mid-1980s amid the outbreak of the AIDS epidemic.

The film follows Adrian Lester, compellingly portrayed by Cory Michael Smith, a young man living a fractured life in New York City. Adrian is coming home to Fort Worth, Texas, for the Christmas holidays, marking his first return in three years. His reserved demeanor conceals a profound personal crisis, haunted by fears, disillusionment, and tragic secrets.

The film delves into Adrian's relationships with each of his family members, painting intimate and heart-rending portraits of a traditional, conservative, and religious family, struggling to reconcile their love for their son with their strongly held beliefs and prejudices.

Virginia Madsen and Michael Chiklis breathe unforgettable life into the roles of Adrian's deeply religious mother, Eileen, and his stern yet loving father, Dale. Eileen's warmth and caring are spiced with touches of charming naivety, while Dale, a Vietnam War veteran, projects strength tempered with subtle hints of vulnerability. Jamie Chung adds depth to the cast as Carly, a childhood friend of Adrian's, providing a glimpse into a world that could have been.

Each member of his family has hopes for Adrian, desires for what his future should look like, but they are unaware of his circumstances, his struggles, or the life he is living in New York. The strained interactions, the things said and unsaid, and the apparent miscommunication underscore the profound fissures and the complicated bonds within the family unit.

1985 captures a specific moment in history, when the AIDS crisis was spreading alarmingly, reaching a crescendo unseen before, and yet, it was not a subject openly discussed, wrapped instead in layers of fear, stigma, and confusion. Tan's storytelling is as sparse and raw as it is effective, perfectly encapsulating the climate of denial and ignorance surrounding AIDS in the '80s.

Shot in stark black-and-white, 1985 celebrates the power of small moments that can evoke vast emotions. It beautifully offers a nod to the film production style of the era it seeks to replicate. The cinematography by Hutch successfully paints an evocative atmosphere of underlying unease and pathos. It renders the film a forlorn, critical look reminiscent of the indie cinema of the actual year 1985.

The film is backed by an emotive score, composed by Curtis Heath. The music subtly punctuates the narrative with its quiet intensity, communicating the ineffable depths of human emotion that words sometimes cannot.

Each actor delivers a performance that reverberates with authenticity. Cory Michael Smith captures the aura of Adrian with a sense of tragic inevitability that is profoundly moving, his vacillations between hope and despair captured in a series of telling expressions. Virginia Madsen brings a soft fragility to Adrian's mother Eileen, while Michael Chiklis brings a quiet stoicism to the role of Adrian's father, Dale.

1985 is a touching tale of reconciliation, acceptance, and the power of familial love. It is an intimate look at one man's struggle against societal norms and a deadly disease, capturing the raw and unspoken feelings of an era in American history marked by fear, prejudice, and an unspeakable health crisis. The human story at its core, combined with an evocative execution, makes this a movie that remains long in the viewer's memory, even after the screen goes dark. Despite being set in a different era, 1985 feels deeply relevant in today's ever-evolving societal landscape, making it a must-watch for those who appreciate thought-provoking narratives that go beyond the surface.