A Question of Love (US 1978; 100'; AKA A Purely Legal Matter) . . .
Style: Drama
Director: Jerry Thorpe
Main Cast: Gena Rowlands (Linda Ray Guettner), Jane Alexander (Barbara Moreland), Ned Beatty (Dwayne Stabler), Clu Gulager (Mike Guettner), Bonnie Bedelia (Joan Saltzman), James Sutorius (Richard Freeman), Keith Mitchell (Billy Guettner), Josh Albee (David Guettner), Jocelyn Brando (Mrs. Hunnicutt), Gwen Arner (Dr. Tippit), John Harkins (Dr. Berwick), Nancy McKeon (Susan Moreland), S. John Launer (The Judge), Philip Sterling, Donald Hotton
Poignant made-for-TV drama about lesbian mother Linda Ray, happily sharing a home with her lover Barbara and their respective children. Linda Ray's children were previously unaware of the sexual relationship. When the oldest son finds out, he leaves and moves in with his father, who then proceeds to initiate legal proceedings to win custody of the other children. Extraordinarily well-acted and directed, with very little sentimentality and virtually no political dogma. This film set the standard for mature, thoughtful presentations of homosexuality in everyday life, and every one of the players is exceptional. Oddly, this received very little backlash at the time it first aired, while today it would bring the pious out in droves to stage protests and boycotts. As the forerunner of a long string of films tackling the subject matter in the 80s and 90s, this is the film to look at to see just how far the USA hasn't come.
Links:
- IMDb

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(Last updated: 2006/10/18)