PHILADELPHIA (1993)
Film Study

PART ONE :

The movie starts with Andrew Beckett and Joe Miller , both trying to defend a case (Kendall Construction case). Andrew seems to be highly appreciated in his law firm of Philadelphia. One night , he is summoned by his employers. He is given a very important case ( The Highline Case). Andrew is the youngest in the firm and he is very proud to be promoted. Before he leaves the office, one of his colleagues notices his lesion on his forehead. He pretends he was hit by a racket.
But later on Andrew faints and has to be taken to hospital : he has got more lesions and feels sick. His partner Miguel rushes to the hospital to meet him. Then, Andrew is called because his Highline case cannot be found anywhere. He is persuaded he had left a copy on his desk. “ Every problem has a solution” says Andrew to himself.

PHILADELPHIA (1993)
Film Study

PART TW0

We first see Joe Miller in hospital because his wife has just had a baby girl.
One week later, Andrew meets Joe at his office: he tells him he’s just been fired and wants to sue his employers for discrimination. He explains how he was fired and how he was sabotaged (the Highline case was lost, so he was accused of being incompetent).
But Joe refuses to help him.
Joe rushes to his doctor’s because he fears he’s been contaminated. He then goes back home and clearly tells his wife he hates homosexuals and is prejudiced against all of them. His wife is much more open minded about the subject!

The next scene takes place at the library: Andrew is working for his own case and the librarian advises him to go to the research room. In fact he is very uneasy, but Andrew refuses. Joe is here too but first hides behind books because he doesn’t want to be seen by Andrew. Yet, a few minutes later, he finally goes to see Andrew and asks him more details about his dismissal. Andrew explains one of his colleagues must have known he had aids because he’s seen his lesions .As