Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Blistering performances.

The talented photographer Natalie (Kyra Sedgwick) is having financial difficulties in New York. Her friend and agent Julia (Stockard Channing) finds a two day job in Boston for US$ 20,000.00, and the reluctant Natalie accepts the work due to her need of money. When she arrives, she finds that she was hired by her arrogant gay brother Roy (Kiefer Sutherland), a successful designer. Natalie has broken the relationship and they have not seen each other for ten years. When she finishes her assignment, Roy asks her to stay one more day for his birthday party, and after that he tells her that he has AIDS. Natalie stays with him and along his last days, their resentments change to fraternal love."Behind the Red Door" is a little movie, with a single and quite pointless story and great performances. Kiefer Sutherland surprises in the role of gay – we are used to see him performing tough detectives and agents; Kyra Sedgwick is also great, as usual, and Stockard Channing is wasted in a minor role. Unfortunately the screenplay is not good: the quarrel of the siblings, why they have broken their relationship, is never explained; the death of their mother by the father is pointless and goes nowhere; and the financial position of the siblings could suggest that Natalie stayed with and bore Roy in the beginning just because of his wealthy testament and job position – Roy promises to pay for everything, even for her to stay with him in his birthday party. The lead trio of actor and actresses deserved a better screenplay. My vote is six.Title (Brazil) "Uma Porta Para o Passado" ("A Door to the Past")

I watched this film last evening on cable after previously shutting it off when the AIDS subplot became apparent. My initial instinct proved valid. I am partial to Kyra Sedgewick, but am usually skeptical about Keifer Sutherland as a leading character in anything. Well, they both were equally bad with this badly written script which is badly edited and badly filmed in lovely St. John, Newfoundland. Gay stereotypes abound. Artistic personalities are also painted with a very broad roller. Ms. Channing bumbles through several scenes, but has little impact. I felt a little ashamed of hating this film so much when I read the final dedication in the credits, but I still begrudged the time I spent watching it. The message of reconciliation seemed hollow, a dysfunctional message from a dysfunctional family.

Just caught up with this film recently as it was shown on Showtime. To say that it was a surprise, it's the least that can be said. I don't remember a anything as deeply felt, and as well done, and without the cheap sentimentality that might have drowned a film about the subject it treats: Aids.Of course, this film wouldn't probably been made without the vision and the great direction of Mattia Karrell, who also contributed to the screen play. Contrary to what others have said in this forum, it is not a story that requires a box of tissues when one watches it. My own reaction was an amazement on how well the situation is handled, as it never relies of any cheap tricks to convey what is going on between the long distanced siblings. The past comes to haunt the sister, more so than the dying brother, who obviously was too young to realize what had happened to his mother who has died under mysterious circumstances.Kiefer Sutherland as Roy, the perfectionist brother, is excellent as this man who must confront his own death. It must be terrible for someone in his line of business to realize his own mortality and have to depend in the kindness of a sister that he stayed away for too long. Kyra Sedgwick's take on the wounded Natalie, is too amazing for words. Natalie stays behind because the love she always felt for Roy. She never rebels against this blow fate has dealt her; Natalie shows she is a better person for staying with her brother until the end. Never, in recent memory, two talented actors have been paired together with such rewarding results. Rounding the cast is Stockard Channing who is the one responsible for the family reunion, but she is a minor player in this film. The gorgeous cinematography by Robert Elswit is too stunning for words. The musical score by David Fleury makes a great contribution to the mood of the film. Ultimately, thanks to the director Mattia Karrell comes such an unusual film that deals maturely in presenting a real slice of life without formulas.

I'm glad to see other peoples' review are like mine. I don't think enough people have seen this movie. It was great drama, Kiefer Sutherland's performance as a dying man - forcing a reconciliation with his sister,was wonderful. He always play tough so well, naturally he would be good as this forceful ad designer perfectionist who happens to be gay and has aids. What a complex character, he played it so well. All the characters were realistic, you feel something for all of them. I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in complex yet simple story that reminds us how important family relationships are no matter how dysfunctional it may seem.