Directed by Jonathan Demme • 1993 • United States
Starring Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Antonio Banderas

The first major Hollywood film to address the AIDS crisis and homophobia is a groundbreaking, empathetic social drama directed with a humanist touch by Jonathan Demme. Tom Hanks won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Andrew Beckett, a young gay lawyer who has just been fired by his prestigious law firm. Andrew says he’s been dismissed because he has AIDS, and prepares to sue his former employer. But his old firm is so powerful that no attorney in Philadelphia wants to take it on, until Andrew finally turns in desperation to homophobic ambulance chaser Joe Miller (Denzel Washington), who could use the money and exposure. Gradually the two develop an unlikely friendship as they seek to overcome the prejudice and corruption of their powerful adversaries.