Vanessa McMahon

Looking Back! Cinema’s Greatest Moments: PHILADELPHIA (1993)

Philadelphia (1993) was the first film of its kind, a Hollywood blockbuster addressing the issues of HIV/AIDS and homosexuality. While the Oscar winning film was inspired by the lawsuit against Baker & McKenzie in 1987 by attorneys Geoffrey Bowers and Clarence B Cain Bowers for AIDS discrimination the film was a mélange of inspirations by its storytellers, screenwriter Ron Nyswaner and Oscar winning director Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs). Beyond Nyswaner's moving script, Demme wanted to make a movie about AIDS because a dear friend of his had been diagnosed with the virus. 

While the film was inspired by one microcosm story (that of Bowers), it was a macro global issue, hence the film begged to be of universal appeal. Demme made a great script an immortal film, Tom Hanks delivered once of the greatest performances of his career earning himself an Oscar for the role of Andrew Beckett and Denzel Washington played one of the most pivotal roles of his acting history as Beckett’s lover Joe Miller.

Philadelphia possesses a legendary appeal and has since become a canon of cinema. Could that be because of its overall universal theme that love conquers all? Or could there also be another mythical element involved in the story that writer Nyswaner well knew about but which is weaved secretly beneath the surface of the story? Why Philadelphia? Sure, it’s a great city and a beautiful one but still, why Philadelphia? To the ancients, the word ‘Philadelphia’ meant ‘love of brothers’ or ‘brotherly love’ and held its place in Gemini where the sun shines brightest on the ecliptic zodiac.

On the ecliptic zodiac that follows the sun’s path through the solar system throughout the 365-day year there are seven signs of light (Aries-Libra) and then five of darkness (Scorpio-Pisces). The seven signs of light begins with Aries when the sun climbs out of the winter months from Pisces and begins its steady ascension towards its peak in Gemini and Cancer and then later continues its dominion all the way to Libra, the seventh sign. The Greeks had words for these seven signs, or seven Elohim, and when the sun passed through the zodiac of Gemini on its way to its highest point shedding its most brilliant light on the summer solstice of June 21st, this place was called 'Philadelphia', otherwise known as the 'twins' or ‘love of brothers' and 'Pollux and Castor' who are two brothers, one human and one a god.

I wonder if screenwriter Ron Nyswaner set his story about love between two men in Philadelphia, knowing about the meaning of the word Philadelphia in Greek? Or is it pure coincidence? Whether the film intended to have legends interlaced within it, it is in itself legendary. The script was nominated for an Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay. The song "Streets of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Written by Vanessa McMahon