It's My Party (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's My Party is one of the first films (1996) to address the topic of AIDS patients dying with dignity. Starring some major Hollywood talent (including Olivia Newton-John, Margaret Cho, Bronson Pinchot, Devon Gummersall, Steve Antin, Bruce Davison, Sally Kellerman, Gregory Harrison and in the lead, Eric Roberts), the film chronicles a two day party hosted by Roberts' character, who has just been diagnosed with Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. The character, who within a few days will fall into a state of mental lapse for months before his death, decides instead to host a party for all of his family and friends. At the end of the second day, he intends to commit suicide by taking Seconal, and die in their company.

The film was written and directed by Randal Kleiser.

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

A man nearing the end of his life seeks closure with his family and friends and he confronts the issues of the right to die. Nick Stark (Eric Roberts) is a successful architect who is openly gay. He was involved in a committed relationship with Brandon Theis (Gregory Harrison), a television director, until Nick discovered that he's HIV-positive. Nick's first question to Brandon is "You won't leave me, will you? I don't want to die alone." Brandon, however, doesn't have the emotional strength to deal with Nick's condition and soon moves on. Several years later, even though Nick has been mindful of his health, he begins to display symptoms of full-blown AIDS, most notably the brain lesions that indicate Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy, an AIDS-related illness that has already claimed several of his friends. Wanting to go out with his dignity intact, Nick decides to throw one last party, which will give him the opportunity to say goodbye to his friends and family while he's still lucid -- shortly after which he intends to take his own life with painkillers. Nick attempts to make peace with his mother and father (Lee Grant and George Segal), who had difficulty accepting their son's lifestyle, and he enjoys a last laugh with his close friends, until Brandon -- who is hardly welcomed by the group -- shows up. Appearing as Nick's friends and family are Margaret Cho, Bronson Pinchot, Bruce Davison, Sally Kellerman, Marlee Matlin, Roddy McDowall, and Dennis Christopher. Writer and director Randal Kleiser loosely based It's My Party on his own personal experiences when his longtime companion was diagnosed with AIDS and opted to take his own life before his symptoms became too severe. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide