Buddies (1985) – A Groundbreaking Exploration of the Early AIDS Crisis The film follows a New York City gay man, in a monogamous relationship, becoming a "buddy" or volunteer bedside companion to another gay man dying of AIDS, and the friendship that develops. Restored in 2020. Director: Arthur J. Bressan Jr. Writer: Arthur J. Bressan Jr. Country: USA Genre: Drama, History, Romance Language: English Duration: 91 min Stars: Billy Lux, Damon Hairston, David Rose, David Schachter, Geoff Edholm, Joyce Korn, Libby Saines, Susan Schneider, Tracy Vivat Buddies (1985) – A Groundbreaking Exploration of the Early AIDS Crisis Set against the backdrop of the early AIDS epidemic in 1980s New York, Buddies (1985), directed by Arthur J. Bressan Jr., is a poignant cinematic milestone that boldly confronts one of the darkest chapters in recent history. As the first narrative feature film tackling AIDS, Buddies captures the confusion, fear, and stigma of a time when the disease was heavily misunderstood and ignored. Plot Overview The film focuses on David Bennett (David Schachter), a young gay typesetter who volunteers as a hospital companion or “buddy” for Robert Willow (Geoff Edholm), another gay man dying from AIDS. Initially hesitant and unsure of his role, David gradually forms a deep bond with Robert, learning about activism, pride, and dignity in the face of death. Characters David Bennett: A reserved and somewhat shy young typesetter in a stable relationship. His initial discomfort evolves into genuine emotional involvement as he grows close to Robert. Robert Willow: Played with poignancy by Geoff Edholm, Robert is outspoken, politically engaged, and fiercely independent despite his deteriorating health. Supporting characters like Edward (Billy Lux), Robert’s former lover, reflect the broader socio-political landscape…

New findings from a phase 1 study investigating two formulations of once-yearly intramuscular (IM) lenacapvir for HIV preoperative prophylaxis (PrEP) were discussed at the 2025 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. The results, published simultaneously in The Lancet, represent a major advance in the fight against HIV and could open new avenues for long-term prevention. Comparison of once-yearly and twice-yearly formulations of lenacapvir In the Phase 1 study, participants received a single dose of 5,000 mg of either the first formulation (containing 5% ethanol) or the second formulation (containing 10% ethanol) by intramuscular injection. Both formulations showed encouraging pharmacokinetic profiles, with lenacapavir concentrations remaining above the threshold associated with efficacy for more than 56 weeks. Overall, the two formulations compare very well. The pharmacokinetic data showed that the once-yearly lenacapvir formulation lasted for more than 52 weeks, specifically 56 weeks, and consistently maintained above 95% effective concentrations. Key results from the study included median trough concentrations at Week 52 of 57 ng/mL for the first formulation and 65.6 ng/mL for the second formulation, both exceeding the median trough concentrations of 23.4 ng/mL observed with the previously twice-yearly subcutaneous (SC) formulation at Week 26. These results suggest that the once-yearly formulations not only last longer, but also maintain higher plasma concentrations compared to the twice-yearly SC formulations. The study confirmed that these high concentrations remained stable over 56 weeks. The median peak plasma concentration was 247 ng/mL for the first formulation, while the second formulation had a higher peak of 336 ng/mL, which is much higher than the highest concentration observed…

This is a BL show from Myanmar, which seems to draw heavy inspiration from Thai BL dramas, particularly those set in universities and schools. The ending felt somewhat open-ended and unexpected, and I’m still not entirely sure what message the creators were trying to convey. Nonetheless, it’s good to see the BL genre expanding. With 9 episodes, each about 10 minutes long, the show takes its time to unfold. While there is a clear storyline, I feel the screenplay and direction lack polish. Still, I appreciate the attempt. Oh, and what's up with the title? Shouldn't it be "My Heart" given the heart symbol on the posters? The show begins with a girl being killed in a bar, then jumps ahead a year. Thu Kha, a young boy with a heart condition, is studying in school, though he seems to be doing okay overall. A new student, Nay Thit, joins the school after being expelled from his previous one. He quickly befriends Thu Kha and his group of friends, and sparks start flying between the two, despite rumors about Nay Thit’s anger issues and the gossip that he might have been involved in a killing. Then, the villain enters: the brother of the girl who was killed, who believes that Nay Thit murdered her while they were dating and is out for revenge. Nay Thit confesses to Thu Kha that the girl had once shown interest in him, but he never liked her, and that she eventually moved on to a jealous boyfriend. The villain vows revenge in a rather…

Internalized homophobia is a force that can be incredibly powerful. We often think of it as a lingering sense of shame or something that fades away once someone comes out, but in reality, it manifests in many different ways and is often deeply shaped by cultural contexts. We've seen numerous films dealing with homosexuality and religion, but add in elements like superstition and witchcraft, and you create a genre that’s not often explored in contemporary gay cinema. Set against the backdrop of Egypt, a country with a visually stunning landscape, this film becomes a taut, suspenseful thriller about gay men struggling to reconcile their sexual identities with their families’ religious convictions. It builds intensity through several jump scares but remains carefully crafted in its approach. Mo and Hisham, a couple, travel to Egypt to meet Mo’s mother after the recent death of his father. Due to the highly homophobic environment in Egypt, they must pretend to be just friends for their own safety. Returning to Egypt, however, makes Mo anxious and uneasy, as he has a past that slowly unravels throughout the film. When Sara Hegazi, an Egyptian lesbian activist, tragically commits suicide after being imprisoned and tortured for waving a rainbow flag at a concert in Cairo, Mo’s own struggles intensify. Hisham, out of a desire to keep them both safe, decides to avoid doing anything "gay" in public. This leads to a realization that Mo still views their relationship as sinful. When Mo visits his mother, she refuses to meet him, and instead, an old adversary is there.…

Firstly, I have to mention that this isn’t exactly a movie. It's more like six episodes stitched together, with a total runtime of about 50 minutes. I’m not sure if that’s how it was originally meant to be, or if the version I saw was edited in this way, but regardless, it felt a bit silly and didn’t really capture my interest. The storyline was basic, the acting a little over-the-top, and honestly, there wasn’t much that stuck with me afterward. The plot revolves around Troy, who recently moved to Brooklyn with his friend Pat and Pat's then-boyfriend, Chance. However, Troy and Chance broke up, and they haven’t had the time or space to process the breakup to consider whether they might reconcile. Troy works as a busboy and generally walks around looking grumpy and bitter, still harboring feelings for his ex. When a new neighbor, Abel, moves in—a sweet 29-year-old middle school teacher—Troy's hopes for a reunion with Chance are officially pushed aside. As Troy and Abel get to know each other, the tension between whether Troy will reconcile with Chance or start something new with Abel builds. Eventually, Chance returns, hoping to rekindle their love, but this time, Troy shuts him down. Meanwhile, Troy’s roommate Pat is trying to land a job with the mayor’s re-election campaign. And that’s pretty much the entire plot—without a proper resolution. As I mentioned, the lead actor playing Troy often went a little overboard with his performance, which, for me, became annoying after a while. The comedy just didn’t land, at least…

*Layla* is a beautifully crafted exploration of love, sex, gender, and friendship. The film’s summary—“When Layla, a struggling Arab drag queen, falls in love for the first time, they lose and find themselves in a transformative relationship that tests who they really are”—barely scratches the surface of what the film is really about. It’s refreshing to see a film that centers drag performers, not relegating them to the background as mere decorations, but focusing on their stories and offering a window into their internal worlds. The love story is full of ups and downs, and while you might not always agree with what’s happening, everything is handled with the gentle touch that such a delicate subject deserves. Layla is introduced living in London, surrounded by a vibrant community of queer friends with whom they perform drag and attend parties. The chemistry between Layla and their friends is palpable, and you can feel the strong sense of camaraderie. At one of these parties, Layla meets Max, a conventionally "straight" looking marketing executive. They share an instant connection and have sex, but it’s clear that this encounter is more than a one-night fling. As the relationship progresses, Layla and Max cautiously begin dating, each trying to woo the other in their own way. Layla can hardly believe they’ve found love. However, as the relationship deepens, the two of them begin to realize that fitting into each other's worlds is harder than they thought. Layla, who at home is known as Latif, comes from a traditional Muslim family and avoids spending time with…

I watched the first two seasons of the show a few years ago and had completely lost track of when the third season came out. It's so hard to keep up these days! In fact, I had to go back and reread my own review to refresh my memory on what the series was about, so I could properly appreciate this new season. This season consists of 8 episodes, each around 10-12 minutes long, and picks up right where we left off in season 2. Here's a quick recap: Jason and Brian had been together for many years until Jason passed away from cancer. Brian, surrounded by a close-knit circle of friends, tried to move on by dating someone new, David. However, Brian’s inability to let go of Jason made it difficult for him to build a meaningful connection with David. The third season continues Brian’s journey, where we find him immersing himself in work. Despite his desire to move forward, the people around him—especially his friends and support system—won't let him fully move on. Even more haunting is the fact that Jason's ghost continues to speak to Brian. After a recommendation from a friend, Brian finally decides to see a therapist to help him work through his grief and figure out how to move on. The issue is, every time Brian tries to think about moving on, he is overwhelmed with guilt. Through several therapy sessions, Brian comes to realize that he and his friends have placed Jason on a pedestal, almost making him into an angelic figure. This…

Another queer film set against the backdrop of religion, Mysterious Ways offers a fresh and unique conflict. Unlike many others, the focus here is on the internal struggles that a gay couple faces, both with themselves and each other, before they even begin to confront the challenges that society imposes on them. In an era where lawmakers and religious groups are debating queer rights across the globe, this film thoughtfully explores the complex relationship one can have with organized religion, faith, and queerness in general. The story revolves around Peter, an English Vicar now serving in New Zealand. Once happily married, Peter has an adult daughter. After the death of his wife, Peter finds solace in meeting Jason, who was incarcerated at the time. Before Jason entered his life, Peter had never really considered his own queerness. But Jason brought a love into Peter's life that was unexpected and transformative, and the two eventually became a couple, gaining the knowledge and support of those around them. Jason runs a youth center, helping troubled teens find their way. However, when Peter and Jason decide they want to marry in front of God and their loved ones in a church, the real conflict begins. Peter proposes this idea to the church, only to face vehement rejection. The situation soon becomes a media spectacle, and Peter and Jason are thrust into a tense public frenzy. Peter, eager to use his position and the newfound media attention, seeks to push for change within the church regarding the acceptance of queer individuals. Jason, however, isn’t…

After that incident, I had the leverage over him and I hadn't run into him on campus for a month or two. Maybe he still considered that incident a nightmare! However, on the other hand, it should be a good thing to dampen his prestige through this incident, letting him know that being handsome and strong doesn't necessarily mean you are strong, and that not all people are easy to bully. Later, I went to watch several inter-departmental basketball games on campus, but he didn't participate in any of them. I think his absence is definitely related to this incident. You know, as a main player of the school team, how could he not play for the department? What's more, he is the captain of the school team (of course, I found out about this later).   It was another month later when I saw him again. Beijing had entered the season of clear and crisp autumn weather. I passed by the athletic field that day and saw a group of handsome athletes training there from afar. They were all my type! So I went to the edge of the field. When I got closer, I found that they were training their physical fitness under the supervision of the coach. The jargon is called "variable speed running", which means 400 meters per lap. They sprinted on the straights and jogged on the bends. The coach's thick and tall body was facing away from me. He probably held a stopwatch in his hand to time the players, and from time to time, he loudly scolded…

*Ganymede* is a bit of a mixed bag, functioning primarily as a coming-of-age queer drama while intertwining elements of horror. With its underlying theme of religious homophobia, it’s a semi-horror film—not in a traditional scary way, but more through its subtle, unsettling subtext. The movie challenges us to confront the painful bigotry and abuse faced by the LGBTQ community, especially from right-wing religious perspectives. At its heart, the film attempts to send an important message to young people grappling with their sexual identity, particularly those who have to navigate problematic family dynamics. Set in a small, modern-day town in the Bible Belt, the film follows Lee, a high school wrestling star and the only son of a staunchly religious local politician who runs his household with strict authority. Kyle, an openly gay student at the school, develops a crush on Lee. He learns that Lee volunteers to pick up trash around the school, so Kyle decides to join him. As they spend more time together, the growing friendship causes concern for Lee’s parents, while Lee himself is conflicted about his feelings. Throughout the film, Lee begins to experience disturbing hallucinations of evil demons, which are triggered by various events. Despite this, Kyle persists, encouraging Lee to accept that being gay is okay. However, things take a darker turn when Lee’s parents catch the two boys embracing after sharing a kiss. Lee’s father, in a desperate attempt to "cure" his son, enlists the local pastor, who believes that gay people are influenced by a demon named Ganymede. The pastor then conducts…

Queer holiday films have the potential to create a warm, cozy atmosphere, but the timing has to be just right for them to work. Unfortunately, this particular movie is so sluggish in its pace that, no matter when you watch it or what mood you're in, you'll likely lose interest. The acting feels flat, there's very little happening plot-wise, and the production is so low-budget that it feels like an indie film that, regrettably, doesn't leave any lasting impression. The story centers around Bailey, a single middle-aged man living with his medicated mother in Florida, where she suffers from chronic pain. Bailey himself is dealing with his own troubles—he's recently lost his dog in a tragic accident and has just been informed that he'll lose his job by the year's end due to the company shutting down. One day, his mother informs him that her close friend and her son, Greyson, are planning to move to their town, and Greyson will be staying with them for a few days. Bailey and Greyson were close friends when they were younger, but it’s been 30 years since they last saw each other. During the few days they spend together, they reminisce about their past, discover shared interests, and gradually realize they have more in common than they thought, including a deepening admiration for each other. This culminates in Bailey kissing Greyson one night, which leads to them confessing their love for one another. By Christmas, Greyson and his mother move to the town, and everything seems to fall into place. At the…

There’s such a scarcity of good comedy content out there that anything new tends to be met with high anticipation. I didn’t know much about this six-part Canadian series before watching it, but I was happy to find myself pleasantly surprised. *Settle Down* is exactly the type of light queer comedy we need right now. It dives deep into relationships, exploring the many forms they take and the diverse challenges they present, both real and imagined. Each episode focuses on different client stories, addressing issues like anxiety, commitment struggles, and unconventional relationships. These personal stories touch on various aspects of queer love, dating, and sex, giving the series depth and relevance. The central character is Mason, who runs a podcast about love and relationships, while also operating a matchmaking business for queer individuals—a refreshing break from the usual dating apps. He’s been married to Jarod for a few years, with Jarod being a supportive partner, but recently, Jarod feels sidelined by Mason’s growing work commitments. This neglect is ironic, considering Mason’s role as a relationship expert, discussing love and connection on his podcast. Over the course of the six episodes, Mason struggles with finding a balance between his work and personal life, which begins to jeopardize his flourishing love business and his marriage. Along the way, we meet various clients who share their unique stories, while we also witness Mason’s dynamics with his best friend, Ben, who is dealing with his own on-again, off-again relationship with a handsome guy and grappling with body positivity issues. We’re also introduced to a…