Buddies

"...The first dramatic movie about AIDS"

1985 1h 21m EN

🙌

8.2

BANGER

★8.2TMDB · 55

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

David, a naive graduate student, has volunteered to work as a 'buddy' for people dying of AIDS. Assigned to the intensely political Robert, a lifelong activist whose friends and family have abandoned him following his diagnosis, the two men, each with notably different world views, soon discover common bonds, as David's inner activist awakens and Robert's need for emotional release is fulfilled.

“...The first dramatic movie about AIDS”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Geoff Edholm
Robert Willow
David Schachter
David Bennett
Libby Saines
Mrs. Bennett
David Rose
Steve
Billy Lux
Edward
Joyce Korn
Lynn
Susan Schneider
Sylvia Douglas
Tracy Vivat
Nurse

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Arthur J. Bressan, Jr.
Writers: Arthur J. Bressan, Jr.
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

81 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

41 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Arthur J. Bressan, Jr., shot by Carl Teitelbaum. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Jeffrey Olmstead. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Arthur J. Bressan, Jr. shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Geoff Edholm and David Schachter and Libby Saines carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "...The first dramatic movie about AIDS".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Arthur J. Bressan, Jr. directs. Carl Teitelbaum behind the camera. Jeffrey Olmstead scores. Arthur J. Bressan, Jr. cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

181 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
241 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Arthur J. Bressan, Jr., shot by Carl Teitelbaum. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Jeffrey Olmstead. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Arthur J. Bressan, Jr. shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Geoff Edholm and David Schachter and Libby Saines carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "...The first dramatic movie about AIDS".
9IMDB entry: tt0088864 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 55 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
11Classified under 9 themes, including "new york city", "friendship", "aids", "male friendship".