Rob Frydlewicz: AIDS Drama, "Andre's Mother", Airs on PBS, March 7, 1990

When I read of actress Sada Thompson's death last week I was disappointed that her obituary in the New York Times didn't mention her starring role in the movie Andre's Mother. Co-starring Richard Thomas and Sylvia Sidney, it aired on PBS on March 7, 1990.

In the movie Thompson portrayed a grieving mother dealing with her son Andre's death from AIDS. The story's focus was on her angry reaction to his partner's attempts at reaching out to her (played by Thomas). Sidney played her mother, Andre's understanding grandmother. (Interestingly, she had a similar role in the 1985 TV movie An Early Frost.)

The movie has a lovely ending in which friends of Andre gather in Central Park and pay tribute to his life by releasing white balloons - including his mother and his partner.

I was on a date the night of the movie and we watched it together at his beautiful penthouse apartment on Christopher St. We had met on a phone line which he owned and operated (in addition to being a real estate broker). He was in the middle of some drama with his Parisian ex and that ultimately was the reason nothing futher developed between us. But it was fun watching the movie with him.