''Our Sons'' is a 1991 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made fo ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

starring Julie Andrews and

Ann-Margret Ann-Margret Olsson (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish–American actress, singer, and dancer. As an actress and singer, she is credited as Ann-Margret. She is known for her roles in '' Pocketful of Miracles'' (1961), ''State Fair'' (1962), '' ...

as two mothers of gay sons, one of whom is dying of AIDS. It was inspired by

Micki Dickoff Micki Dickoff is an American director, writer and producer of social justice films. Her documentary ''Neshoba: The Price of Freedom'' opened theatrically in New York and Los Angeles, winning a number of Best Documentary and Special Jury Awards in ...

's 1987 documentary, ''Too Little, Too Late'', about three families who had supported children with AIDS which had won an Emmy Award. As it was a TV movie, ”It’s much safer to take the route of dealing with the two mothers” as the protagonists, said director John Erman. It was broadcast the same day as GMHC's annual AIDS Walk in New York.

Plot

With his partner Donald dying of AIDS, James asks his mother Audrey, a businesswoman in

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United State ...

, to travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas and notify Donald's estranged mother, Luanne. A small town waitress, Luanne must overcome her own overt homophobia and learn to love her son unconditionally. In the process, Luanne cements a lasting friendship with Audrey, who is struggling with her own internalized homophobia.

Cast

as Luanne Barnes * Julie Andrews as Audrey Grant *

Hugh Grant Hugh John Mungo Grant (born 9 September 1960) is an English actor. He established himself early in his career as both a charming, and vulnerable romantic lead and has since transitioned into a dramatic character actor. Among his numerous a ...

as James Grant *

Željko Ivanek Željko Ivanek (né Šimić-Ivanek; ; ; born August 15, 1957) is an American actor, known for his role as Ray Fiske on '' Damages'', for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award. Ivanek is also known for his role of Ed Danvers on '' Homicide: Life on ...

as Donald Barnes * Tony Roberts as Harry * Hal England as Charley * Loyda Ramos as Patient's Wife * Annabelle Weenick as Nurse * Lisa Blake Richards as Female Bar Patron * Essex Smith as Trailer Park Manager * Frank Whiteman as George * Elizabeth Austin as Sally

Reception

Ken Tucker of

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...

magazine stated "Our Sons means well, and performances are above reproach. But it’s also an infuriating piece of work that insults the intelligence of everyone invoked, especially its audience". He gave the movie a score of D. "While the movie is too talky and not poignant enough to be great television, it rates high for integrity" is the opinion of David Hiltbrand of

People A person ( : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of prope ...

. He also said that Julie Andrews brings "enormous dignity and clarity to her role". Co-producer Micki Dickoff later stated "a father in Philadelphia was so moved by the television movie, he reconciled with his AIDS-stricken child".

References

External links

* 1991 television films 1991 films 1991 drama films American LGBT-related television films Films directed by John Erman HIV/AIDS in American films ABC Motion Pictures films HIV/AIDS in television 1991 LGBT-related films Films scored by John Morris 1990s American films {{US-tv-film-stub