Every story is incredibly important for the modern world, but unfortunately, only a few become the basis for a film. Although, it would be easier to study historical moments that way. The movie Philadelphia tells the story of a real person who fought for their life, social status and justice. Read more at philadelphia-trend.
WHAT STORY IS EMBEDDED IN THE PLOT?
The distant year of 1984 was quite difficult for lawyer Geoffrey Bowers. The young and enterprising man got a job at the prestigious Baker & McKenzie law firm. But the man was an unordinary person. He had a secret that he was unaware of at first and then didn’t want to tell about until the end.
It turned out that the lawyer was suffering from AIDS and was also homosexual. In the 1980s, such a diagnosis and orientation were not supported in society. Even in the modern world, you may notice judgmental looks and offensive words directed at people who are different from others.
Society’s attitude was not the only concern for Bowers. He was fired after the firm found out about his illness and sexuality. The young man immediately understood the reason behind this action, as he was usually praised during his work.
The man’s dismissal became the starting point that led to a lawsuit against the former employers. This legal case became the first in history to address the issue of discrimination against a person who received a terrible diagnosis.
PUTTING THE STORY INTO A MOVIE
The main character in the film was played by Tom Hanks, but the person’s name was changed to Andrew Beckett. In the opening scenes, the character appears as a joyful, motivated, strong and healthy person. However, things change over time. Beckett, over the course of the film, fades with each shot, leaving only a glimmer of the person seen at the beginning of the movie. By the way, Tom Hanks was asked to lose 12 kilograms for the film so that he would really look sick on screen.
Andrew’s life changes very quickly as he learns of his fatal diagnosis. But things only get worse when his colleagues reveal his secret. All of this leads to the man’s dismissal and the intiations of court proceedings.
Joe Miller, played by Denzel Washington, was his lawyer. The man turned out to be a homophobe. At the time of the actual events, no one knew how the disease was spread. It was believed that just by touching drug addicts and homosexuals one can catch the disease. Therefore, Joe Miller expressed all the disgust he felt towards Beckett. Not only did he not want to shake his hand, but to be in the same room with him.
Of course, the lawyer’s attitude towards the man and all the people with different orientations would change drastically later. It was important to see such a change on screen because people in the 1990s, when the film was released, still couldn’t accept that everyone should be protected against discrimination.
This movie was a breath of fresh air for those who felt trapped. All the changes occurred due to individuals who couldn’t accept the fact that there are people in the world with different orientations, preferences, skin colors, etc. It is always hard for society to realize that everything different is not always bad.
COMPLAINT FROM THE BOWERS FAMILY
The film became quite popular, but not everyone liked the plot. The family of the already well-known Jeffrey Bowers decided to commence an action. They were convinced that the story of their relative’s life was used without permission. Although the same family members constantly talked about the man in interviews. Ultimately, the relatives withdrew their claim.
Anyway, if part of Jeffrey’s story had not been made public, many people might not have thought about how important another person’s life is. Thanks to the director who dared to bring the film Philadelphia to life, the first case of discrimination went beyond discussions in a narrow circle. Instead, this story became everyone’s main topic for days or even years.
