Naïve typesetter David Bennett (a sincere and likeable performance by David Schachter) volunteers to work as a "buddy" providing companionship for people dying of AIDS. David gets assigned to look after angry gay activist Robert Willow (a fine and affecting portrayal by Geoff Edholm),who's been abandoned by his friends and family in the wake of his terminal diagnosis.

Writer/director Arthur Bressan Jr. treats the delicate subject matter with great care and sensitivity; his low-key style and incisive writing keep the primary focus on the often intense and probing relationship that develops between the two radically contrasting main characters, with an especially nice and satisfying arc for David, who learns to become more socially and politically aware about gay rights issues thanks to the deep bond he makes with Robert. Moreover, Bressan Jr. not only astutely captures both the stigma ascribed to AIDs victims and the paranoia concerning AIDs back in the 1980's, but also says something poignant and significant about the basic human need for company and emotional connection. This film's key triumph is the subtle way it puts an extremely human face on AIDS without ever becoming too maudlin or preachy about it. The fact that both Bressan Jr. and Edholm were eventually claimed by AIDS further underlines the heart-wrenching tragedy of the 80's AIDS epidemic. A lovely film.

Buddies (1985) was written and directed by Arthur J. Bressan Jr.

The movie stars Geoff Edholm as Robert Willow, a young gay man dying from HIV/AIDS. David Schachter portrays David Bennett, a young man who volunteers to be a "buddy" to Robert.

The buddy concept was new to me. Humanitarian groups would assign people to visit people dying from HIV/AIDS if they had no other support system. This must have been common, because many gay men had partners who were dying or had died, and people were afraid to go near people with HIV/AIDS because no one knew how it was transmitted.

This film could have been just a sentimental movie about people dying from a dread disease. It was much more than that. It showed us the human face of people dying from HIV/AIDS, and a human face to those brave enough to help them maintain their dignity.

This movie must have been made on a tiny budget, because the two main characters are about the only actors we see. Many people who would normally have appeared on screen were just speaking parts. The sets were essentially just a hospital room and a gymnasium. (David isn't naturally athletic, but he works out so he won't be a "wimp.") Still, it was effective as a two-person film, so the low budget didn't really interfere.

It's hard to say that you "enjoy" a movie like this, but I can say that I learned from it and am glad that I saw it. It was shown at Rochester's great Dryden Theatre at The George Eastman Museum. The movie was presented as "ImageOut of the Archives" by ImageOut, the excellent Rochester LGBT Film Festival. It will work on the small screen.

Buddies has a very strong IMDb rating of 8.2. Yes--it's that good. Find it and watch it.

A gay man (in a happy monogamous relationship) becomes a buddy with another man dying of AIDS. They slowly become closer and closer...

I was one of the few people to actually see this in a movie theatre back in 1985. It played at a VERY small art house cinema and was the first film ever made to deal with AIDS. It was written and directed by a gay man (Arthur Bressan Jr.) who, sadly, died of AIDS two years later.

It was shattering. At the time I was a closeted gay man with no gay friends and knew nothing about AIDS. This movie really opened my eyes. It didn't scare me from coming out though--it does have the gay, HIV- couple who clearly love each other. The acting was great and it all built up to a powerful climax that left me crying (I wasn't alone--everyone else in the theatre was in tears also).

This is a powerful, depressing film but it should be required viewing for everyone! It's also sad that Bressan is no longer with us. He had the courage to make this film and it is well-written and directed. This has disappeared completely since 1985 and was overshadowed by "Longtime Companion" in 1990. That's too bad--I'd love to see this again.

Powerful and moving. A 10.