Name: Mendoza, Alexander James T.

Mendoza

Course/Year/BLK: BSN 2-5

MOVIE REVIEW

Philadelphia by Tom Hanks from 1993

The 1990s were a watershed moment for gay rights. While LGBTQ people were treated
unequally and frequently faced violence within their communities, a younger generation recognized that
LGBTQ people had the same rights as everyone else. While those rights would not be realized for
another 20 years or so, the 1990s were a time when gay rights were brought to the forefront of political
discussions.

Our current era is very different from that of our parents, and even more so than that of our
grandparents. As they have been subjected to different treatment than in the present day. Lesbians and
gay people faced a lot of discrimination back then. Not to say that modern society is any better.
However, in comparison to the past, we now have laws and institutions that provide benefits while also
protecting them from discrimination and ensuring equal rights.

The film's events were inspired by the lives of attorneys Geoffrey Bowers and Clarence Cain.
Bowers was an attorney who sued the law firm, Baker McKenzie, for wrongful dismissal in 1987, in one
of the first AIDS discrimination cases. Tom Hanks played the role of Andrew Beckett, an excellent
attorney. He was a calm and collected homosexual. The character believes in the rule of law and is well-
versed in it.

Andrew Beckett was fired from his job because of his HIV/AIDS diagnosis. His coworkers, on the
other hand, respect and admire him. He had no choice but to leave the law firm. He was accused of
bringing the disease into their workplace. Following that, he was directed to another lawyer named
Denzel Washington. Denzel was homophobic, but he is the only one willing to take his side and help him.
Despite knowing and being disgusted with him in the first place, he was the only one willing to help him.

His normal life became a constant disaster as he faced criticism and hatred from the moment
they discovered he had the disease and was homosexual. Many people were so unaccustomed to seeing
someone with AIDS at the time that they were unsure how to handle the situation. After this film was
made and a large number of people saw it. I believe that this film had a significant impact and made a
statement that influenced how they saw and thought.

During those times, his situation was extremely difficult. When you test positive for AIDS, it is
automatically assumed that you are homosexual, and you will face discrimination. Discrimination exists
regardless of era or time; the only difference is the treatment you receive. Nonetheless, one can only
help himself by adapting and proving others wrong by being better than them.