Based on a true story, Any Day Now tells the heartbreaking tale of a gay couple’s fight to adopt an abandoned teenager with Down’s syndrome, amidst the discriminatory turmoil of the late 70s and early 80s.
A young lawyer, Paul Fliger (Garret Dillahunt), is entranced by a female impersonator, Rudy Donatello (Alan Cumming), and they quickly find themselves caught up in a whirlwind romance.
Rudy’s neighbour is a drug addict, and her teenage son, Marco (Isaac Leyva), has Down’s syndrome. When his mother seemingly abandons Marco, Rudy takes him in. Marco’s gentle nature resonates deeply with Rudy, who immediately takes to this helpless, yet strong, young boy.
Family services eventually arrive to collect Marco, but the thought of Marco spending years being shipped from foster home to foster home is too much for Rudy, who enlists Paul’s help to gain temporary guardianship of Marco.
As a gay couple, they know they won’t stand a chance of being awarded custody, so the pair pretends to be cousins. Marco’s mother has been arrested for drug possession, and with little care for her son’s wellbeing, happily agrees to sign over custody of the child to Rudy and Paul while she completes her sentence.
The three form a family, and for the first time Marco knows what it’s like to have a safe and loving home. He thrives and grows close to his two dads. But, this was the 1970s, a time in history when the family’s ability to stay together was clearly going to be challenged by broader societal norms.
When Rudy and Paul’s relationship is uncovered, Marco is removed from their care and they are left to fight a bureaucratic system—operated by prejudiced people—to win back their rights to parent.
Any Day Now is as beautiful as it is tragic. The love and romance between Paul and Rudy is captured warmly, and presents in stark contrast to the cold-hearted actions of those around them. Both Alan Cumming and Garret Dillahunt should be applauded for their moving performances.
Sadly, much of the discrimination on which this film is based is still too present today. The film highlights the senselessness and the hysteria that a fear of difference creates. For this reason alone it should be viewed, but also because it is well written, performed and delivered.
Come armed with tissues, because this beautiful story will both touch and sadden you. Hopefully, it will also remind many of the futility of prejudice as an unnecessary yet incredibly harmful presence in our legal system and our society.
Directed by: Travis Fine
Starring: Alan Cumming, Garret Dillahunt, Isaac Leyva
Rating: TBC
Runtime: 97mins
Release Date: 10 April
Reviewer rating: 4/5
Image Credit: telegraph.co.uk
