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Holding the Man

  • 2015
  • Unrated
  • 2h 7m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Ryan Corr and Craig Stott in Holding the Man (2015)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:19
1 Video
51 Photos
BiographyDramaHistoryRomance

Tim and John fell in love at their all-boys high school. Their romance endured for 15 years to laugh in the face of everything life threw at it - the separations, the discrimination, the tem... Read allTim and John fell in love at their all-boys high school. Their romance endured for 15 years to laugh in the face of everything life threw at it - the separations, the discrimination, the temptations, the jealousies and the losses.Tim and John fell in love at their all-boys high school. Their romance endured for 15 years to laugh in the face of everything life threw at it - the separations, the discrimination, the temptations, the jealousies and the losses.

  • Director
    • Neil Armfield
  • Writers
    • Tommy Murphy
    • Timothy Conigrave
  • Stars
    • Ryan Corr
    • Sarah Snook
    • Francesco Ferdinandi
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    14K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Neil Armfield
    • Writers
      • Tommy Murphy
      • Timothy Conigrave
    • Stars
      • Ryan Corr
      • Sarah Snook
      • Francesco Ferdinandi
    • 72User reviews
    • 35Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 19 nominations total

    Videos1

    Holding the Man
    Trailer 2:19
    Holding the Man

    Photos50

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    + 47
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Ryan Corr
    Ryan Corr
    • Timothy Conigrave
    Sarah Snook
    Sarah Snook
    • Pepe Trevor
    Francesco Ferdinandi
    • Italian Waiter
    Craig Stott
    Craig Stott
    • John Caleo
    Lee Cormie
    • Eric
    David Woods
    David Woods
    • Drama Teacher
    PiaGrace Moon
    • Prue
    Tegan Higginbotham
    Tegan Higginbotham
    • Gina
    Josh Burton
    Josh Burton
    • Derge
    • (as Joshua Burton)
    Andrew S. Gilbert
    • Father Wallbridge
    Mason Viola
    • Paul Caleo (15 years)
    Anthony LaPaglia
    Anthony LaPaglia
    • Bob Caleo
    Camilla Ah Kin
    Camilla Ah Kin
    • Lois Caleo
    Luke Christopoulos
    • Chris Caleo (13 years)
    Kerry Fox
    Kerry Fox
    • Mary Gert Conigrave
    Guy Pearce
    Guy Pearce
    • Dick Conigrave
    Christian Impala
    • Prologue Student
    Thomas Hatchman
    • Biscuit
    • Director
      • Neil Armfield
    • Writers
      • Tommy Murphy
      • Timothy Conigrave
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews72

    7.413.8K
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    Featured reviews

    9TrevorJD

    Powerful and moving film of Tim Conigrave's well loved memoir

    Director Neil Armfield, who was at the charity screening of 'Holding the Man' I went to tonight, took a huge undertaking when he decided to direct the film of Tim Conigrave's autobiographical novel (A memoir that was an ode to Conigrave's lover and partner John Caleo). As Conigrave's book became such a well loved novel, and later a successful and highly regarded stage play. And now I am proud to say a very powerful and moving film.

    The film 'Holding the Man' is filled with scenes that have such a strong emotional truth to them. Particularly for a gay man like myself, who experienced those years in the 80's and early 90's when AIDS took the lives of many friends and acquaintances; and when fear and ignorance of AIDS, and towards gay men, was the norm rather than the exception. However the centre of Conigrave's memoir was a love story that lasted 15+ years, and Ryan Corr (The Water Diviner, Banished, Love Child, ) and Craig Stott bare all in brilliant performances. Corr as the loud and opinionated Tim, and Stott as amiable and quiet John create an amazing chemistry on screen, and one that will earn them universal praise. However the great performances also extend to a roll call of top Australian acting talent that includes Geoffrey Rush, Guy Pearce, Anthony Lapaglia, Kerry Fox and Marcus Graham among many others. With a film spanning the 70's, 80's and 90's, it also has a great soundtrack of hits from the era.

    Tim Conigrave died 10 days after writing 'Holding the Man', He probably had no understanding what a huge impact his book would have had on so many people across the world.

    Read the book and go see this great Aussie movie.
    9albertusjohannesmaria

    When everything is against you

    I wasn't searching for a movie about aids. The subject usually gives me a very uneasy feeling. I don't want to remember those days when some very good friends of mine died in agony in front of my eyes. I was quite young back then, and did I really understand what happened? No, when you're young life looks endless. So when this movie, unexpectedly for me, because I had not read anything about it, brought up the aids subject, I had to take a deep breath. But the movie is so well executed that it is much more than an aids drama. This movie is a piece of human history and every high school student should see it. I am in my 50s and now aids is something of the past, thanks to great medicine. It cuts through my heart that young men like ones in this film had no chance at all. Especially in the 80s gay liberation wasn't that far, and so much human needs have been denied to these men. Thank god society has improved on these levels, and it only could by telling these important stories.
    8breckstewart

    Amazing Surprise

    I admit, I was rather apprehensive to watch this movie because I knew it would not be easy since the subject matter was quite obviously not about entertaining but rather tackling a difficult subject matter. And so I waited for a long time before getting the courage to sit down and experience the story which is very strong and absolutely touching.

    I'm not particularly fond of flashbacks in movies because they tend to be used as gimmicks and we need as viewers a proper clue that what we are seeing is in a different time frame. But I shouldn't have worried since the movie was directed and edited by people who know their craft and they were able to construct a beautiful love story.

    The 2 leads are absolutely amazing and the acting is very strong from the whole cast so it was a pleasure to get into the story which, although difficult and certainly very sad, was also uplifting and amazingly well crafted. I particularly enjoyed Ryan Corr portrayal of the conceited, arrogant yet loving Timothy Conigrave character and he is lifting the movie to a higher plane full of pathos and subtleties.

    Craig Matthew Stott as Conigrave's lover John Caleo is also very good with a subtle performance and his chemistry with Timothy is really strong. The ending which is always a sore subject for me when not done right was actually satisfying even if I knew that it couldn't be anything but sad yet, there is a quality to the script that makes it uplifting and very touching.

    A solid 8 stars from me is well deserved and I would totally recommend it to anyone who is interested in this subject matter yet, be aware that this is no picnic in the park but a difficult yet inspiring journey into the romantic bond between 2 men who we feel truly love each other until the end.
    8ekeby

    Not easily done...

    ...showing the story of two teenagers through to their early 30s. Both the book and movie were unknown to me, so I came at this without expectations. This movie succeeds with material that is very familiar--if not overly familiar--to gay men like myself. That in itself is quite an accomplishment.

    What starts out as a simplistic story of high school romance becomes an epic tale spun out for 127 minutes. I was surprised by the honesty of the story, and surprised that the two lead actors could seamlessly--and convincingly--go from teenagers to adults. It is not easy to take everyday events and stitch them up into an epic. This movie does that, and it does it well.

    If I had known the plot in advance, I probably wouldn't have gone near this film with a 10-foot pole. I'm glad I didn't know because I would have missed a really good movie.

    If you're young and gay and want to get an accurate look at what life was like for us in the '70s and '80s, this is the movie to see. For Americans, that it's set in Australia is irrelevant; the story was the same.
    10amicusets

    Simply one of the best love stories-- and not just gay stories I have seen.

    I am a bit of a hard ash when it comes to rating and reviewing movies, and this movie hit all of the marks for me. It was sublime, and had me literally sobbing toward the end.

    Being from America, I was not familiar with the book or the story, and in fact, only got the movie because of the cover art. I wasn't really looking for a movie that dealt with the early days of HIV/AIDS, and in fact, tend to steer clear of them because they are usually done so poorly, but HTM deals with it not only realistically, but with great humanity. In the end, the movie isn't about the disease, but the love these two men shared.

    And what a love it must have been. Most of us could only ever hope for a love like that, and never actually find it. In that regard, it reminds me of Bridegroom. Both of those films leave you with the hope that fairy tale love really can exist in the real world.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When the adolescent Tim first asks John if he'll "go round with him," the telephone used by Ryan Corr is the actual telephone Timothy Conigrave would have used to make the call in real life. It was Conigrave's personal bedroom telephone from his youth, provided to the production by his sister Anna Davison.
    • Goofs
      When Tim is interviewing AIDS patient Richard, Richard asks when Tim was born. Tim replies October 1959. Tim's actual birthday is November 19, 1959.
    • Quotes

      Timothy Conigrave: What happens to my soul if I go mad? Does it stay trapped inside or is it floating free?

    • Crazy credits
      There is a snippet of a recording with writer Tim Conigrave, and a photo of Tim and John together, after the last film credit.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Invisible Boys: Apps (2025)
    • Soundtracks
      20th Century Boy
      Written by Marc Bolan

      Performed by T. Rex

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    FAQ19

    • How long is Holding the Man?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 27, 2015 (Australia)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • 深擁一世情
    • Filming locations
      • Lipari, Lipari Island, Aeolian Islands, Messina, Sicily, Italy(location)
    • Production companies
      • Screen Australia
      • Goalpost Pictures
      • Snow Republic
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $767,038
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 7 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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