Sade may have sung the praises of “no ordinary love,” but what happens when an ordinary love becomes, over time and against obstacles, something quite extraordinary? From the relatively comfortable vantage point of 2020, Terry Donahue and Pat Henschel’s nearly seven-decade-long relationship looks just like any other enduring long-term partnership. Throughout the new documentary “A Secret Love,” the two elderly women field visits from family, attend dinner parties with friends, and keep each other fed, rested, and medicated. They hold hands, they kiss, they reminisce. So easy and natural are these simple moments of domestic bliss that they are almost rendered unremarkable. But of course, nothing could be further from the truth.
The magic trick of “A Secret Love” is to shine a light on this quietly intimate story, which . It is unfortunately all too rare for young Lgbtq people to interact with their elders, and “A Secret Love” provides...
The magic trick of “A Secret Love” is to shine a light on this quietly intimate story, which . It is unfortunately all too rare for young Lgbtq people to interact with their elders, and “A Secret Love” provides...
- 4/30/2020
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Several years ago, filmmaker Chris Bolan gathered with the rest of his family at the suburban Chicago house of his two great aunts, Terry Donahue and Pat Henschel. Over some rum and Cokes, Terry and Pat let their family know there was something they had to tell them. Terry and Pat weren’t just lifelong friends and roommates; they are gay and have been each other’s romantic partner for decades.
The statement opened up a floodgate of emotions, with the family roundly supporting the pair and asking them questions about their relationship. Terry and Pat were finally able to open up about their story: how they met in the 1940s, fell in love, and were able to build a life together. Bolan was struck with the audacious, simple beauty of the moment.
“They got up and then they started dancing together in the living room. I remember looking at them going,...
The statement opened up a floodgate of emotions, with the family roundly supporting the pair and asking them questions about their relationship. Terry and Pat were finally able to open up about their story: how they met in the 1940s, fell in love, and were able to build a life together. Bolan was struck with the audacious, simple beauty of the moment.
“They got up and then they started dancing together in the living room. I remember looking at them going,...
- 4/29/2020
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
This heartwarming documentary traces the lives of a baseball star and her partner, now in their 90s, who pretended to be ‘just good friends’ for decades
This documentary from Netflix is a real heart-soother. Directed with tremendous sensitivity and intimacy by Chris Bolan, it’s a love story about two women now in their 90s – Terry Donahue and Pat Henschel, who have been together since the 1940s.
For decades they kept up the pretence of being “just good friends” to their families before finally coming out a few years ago. Talking to outsiders, they still describe each other as “cousins”. The legacy of shame and fear among older people in the gay community is explored in the film, but the overwhelming mood here is love.
This documentary from Netflix is a real heart-soother. Directed with tremendous sensitivity and intimacy by Chris Bolan, it’s a love story about two women now in their 90s – Terry Donahue and Pat Henschel, who have been together since the 1940s.
For decades they kept up the pretence of being “just good friends” to their families before finally coming out a few years ago. Talking to outsiders, they still describe each other as “cousins”. The legacy of shame and fear among older people in the gay community is explored in the film, but the overwhelming mood here is love.
- 4/29/2020
- by Cath Clarke
- The Guardian - Film News
This week, Netflix will premiere a new Ryan Murphy project in which gay characters in the 1940s must keep their sexual orientation a secret for fear of losing their jobs and being rejected by friends and family — but we’re not talking about Murphy’s seven-part miniseries “Hollywood,” which covers some of that territory as it tells a fictional story set against the backdrop of the movie business after World War II.
Murphy’s other Netflix release this week is “A Secret Love,” a documentary directed by Chris Bolan, produced by Murphy and executive produced by Jason Blum, among others. The film, which premieres on Wednesday, deals with a seven-decade relationship between two women who met in 1947 when one of them was playing in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which was later celebrated in “A League of Their Own”.
“A Secret Love” spans more than 70 years in the lives...
Murphy’s other Netflix release this week is “A Secret Love,” a documentary directed by Chris Bolan, produced by Murphy and executive produced by Jason Blum, among others. The film, which premieres on Wednesday, deals with a seven-decade relationship between two women who met in 1947 when one of them was playing in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which was later celebrated in “A League of Their Own”.
“A Secret Love” spans more than 70 years in the lives...
- 4/28/2020
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Tracking the decades-spanning love of Terry Donahue and Pat Henschel, two female baseball players who helped inspire Penny Marshall’s 1992 film “A League of the Own,” Chris Bolan’s documentary “A Secret Love” is an affecting look at one couples life in the backdrop of consistently shifting social and political viewpoints in relation to Lgbtq relationships. Toggling between archival footage, talking heads, and Donahue and Henschel’s present-day plight, in which they decide to move away from their home in Chicago because of lingering health issues, Bolan’s film (Donahue and Henschel are his great aunts) is a moving portrait of the resiliency of love in the face of social upheavals, grounding a sweeping historical overview in the lives of Donahue and Henschel.
Continue reading ‘A Secret Love’: A Loving Portrait of a Decade Spanning Lesbian Relationship at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘A Secret Love’: A Loving Portrait of a Decade Spanning Lesbian Relationship at The Playlist.
- 4/18/2020
- by Christian Gallichio
- The Playlist
1966: David found Victoria on Dark Shadows.
1982: Holly's preliminary hearing began on Gh.
1988: Gl's Ben wanted to know if Aunt Mo was his new mommy.
1999: AMC's Alex had big news for David."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1964: On Another World, on the night before Pat Matthews' (Susan Trustman) murder trial was to begin, she still refused to take the truth serum despite a last-minute plea from her father, Jim (Shepperd Strudwick).
1966: On Dark Shadows, David Collins (David Henesy) discovered Victoria Winters...
1982: Holly's preliminary hearing began on Gh.
1988: Gl's Ben wanted to know if Aunt Mo was his new mommy.
1999: AMC's Alex had big news for David."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1964: On Another World, on the night before Pat Matthews' (Susan Trustman) murder trial was to begin, she still refused to take the truth serum despite a last-minute plea from her father, Jim (Shepperd Strudwick).
1966: On Dark Shadows, David Collins (David Henesy) discovered Victoria Winters...
- 12/15/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
Celebrate the life, the legend and the beauty of Marilyn Monroe. The iconic blonde bombshell shines in high definition in Forever Marilyn: The Blu-ray Collection. With classics like The Misfits and Some Like It Hot as well as new-to-Blu-ray titles How to Marry A Millionaire, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Seven Year Itch, There.s No Business Like Show Business and River of No Return this unique set of films, those that made Marilyn a star, is a collector.s dream. Marking the 50th anniversary of the passing of this Hollywood legend, the seven disc collection will be available as a Blu-ray set and individual titles beginning July 20th Internationally (Germany) and on July 31st in North America from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Marilyn fans around the world can pre-order the Collection with online retailers.
The Misfits
A sexy divorcée falls for an over-the-hill cowboy who is struggling to maintain his...
The Misfits
A sexy divorcée falls for an over-the-hill cowboy who is struggling to maintain his...
- 6/4/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Something nice happened to us while we were preparing the schedule for Ebertfest 2012, which plays April 25-29 at the Virginia Theater (above) in Champaign-Urbana, Ill. We'd invited Patton Oswalt to attend with his "Big Fan. He agreed and went one additional step: "I'd like to personally choose a film to show to the students, and discuss it." That sounded to me like a splendid idea, embodying the spirit of this festival, which combines the love of good films with volunteerism. This is a rare festival where no business takes place. No films are bought or sold. No deals are signed. It's simplicity itself: We join in a classic 1920 palace, 1,600 of us, and watch a film as it should be seen, on a vast screen with perfect sound. Then we talk about them afterwards. The festival and the theater come to us through the work of countless volunteers from the University and the community of Champaign-Urbana.
- 3/27/2012
- by Roger Ebert
- blogs.suntimes.com/ebert
Chicago – As a graduate of the University of Illinois, I can tell you there is one time of the year that is very close to my heart, and many others in the Champaign-Urbana community. That is the last weekend of April every year which brings us Roger Ebert’s Film Festival (aka Ebertfest). And tonight, the lineup for the 14th Annual Ebertfest was announced and includes some very exciting guests.
Returning to the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Il, Ebertfest 2012 will feature 14 different films with special guests and panel discussions after each screening. The past few years have featured Ang Lee, Charlie Kaufman, Bill Nighy, Tim Blake Nelson, Tilda Swinton, and many more, and this year features some exciting guests as well, including Patton Oswalt, Michael Shannon, and Jacob Wysocki.
Oswalt will be appearing at the festival for his film “Big Fan,” and he will also be on hand to introduce...
Returning to the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, Il, Ebertfest 2012 will feature 14 different films with special guests and panel discussions after each screening. The past few years have featured Ang Lee, Charlie Kaufman, Bill Nighy, Tim Blake Nelson, Tilda Swinton, and many more, and this year features some exciting guests as well, including Patton Oswalt, Michael Shannon, and Jacob Wysocki.
Oswalt will be appearing at the festival for his film “Big Fan,” and he will also be on hand to introduce...
- 3/21/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.