Our Sons (1991)

When her son's (Hugh Grant) life partner (Zelijko Ivanek) is dying, a California businesswoman (Julie Andrews) flies to Arkansas to talk the mother (Ann-Marget) who rejected him because of his homosexuality into coming back with her and making peace with her son before he dies. While there were a flurry of dramas in the late 80s and early 90s, both on film and TV, addressing the issue of the AIDS epidemic (AND THE BAND PLAYED ON, LONGTIME COMPANION, AN EARLY FROST etc.), this one takes a different tact. The emphasis is not on the gay couple which is just as well as they are a pretty stereotypical Hollywood view: good looking, successful in their careers, upper middle class lifestyle etc. The story is really about the two mothers and how each comes to terms with how they cope with their sons' sexual orientation. The contrast between the cultured Englishwoman (Andrews) and the "white trash" redneck (Ann-Margret) is perhaps overly emphasized but the strong performances of the actresses overcomes the obviousness of their respective stereotypes. The film is savvy enough not to push the prospective overt emotionality of the situation (the death occurs off screen) and focuses on the fragile human element of the story. Directed by John Erman. With Tony Roberts.