A Secret Love

Name: A Secret Love
Genre: Documentary
Released: April 29, 2020
Duration: 81 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Diana Bolan, Jack Xagas, John Byrd, John Sorenson, Kim Donahue

2020

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

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A Secret Love

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): April 29, 2020 | TV-MA

Starring: Diana Bolan, Jack Xagas, John Byrd, John Sorenson, Kim Donahue, Marge Summit, Pat Henschel, Tammy Donahue, Terry Donahue, Yvonne Zipter

Summary: A Secret Love tells an incredible love story between Terry Donahue and Pat Henschel, whose relationship spans nearly seven decades. Terry played in the women’s professional baseball league, inspiring the hit movie A League Of Their Own. But the film did not tell the real-life story of the women who remained closeted for most of their lives.A Secret Love tells an incredible love story between Terry Donahue and Pat Henschel, whose relationship spans nearly seven decades. Terry played in the women’s professional baseball league, inspiring the hit movie A League Of Their Own. But the film did not tell the real-life story of the women who remained closeted for most of their lives. This documentary follows Terry and Pat back to when they met for the first time, through their professional lives in Chicago, coming out to their conservative families and grappling with whether or not to get married. Facing the hardships of aging and illness, their love proves resilient as they enter the home stretch. … Expand

Director: Chris Bolan

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 81 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Liam Lacey

Apr 30, 2020

Bolan's film is essentially a home movie, that fantails into a larger cultural narrative of post-war North American culture. Shot on video between 2013 and 2018, mostly in intimate indoor settings, the film begins as fly-on-the-wall style cinema verite. Read full review

Katie Walsh

Apr 28, 2020

A Secret Love doesn't dwell much on queer history or activism, as laser-focused as it is on Terry and Pat, and the bond between them. The film beautifully illustrates each of their spirits: the sweet and bubbly Terry, always ready with a signed baseball card, and the stern and protective Pat, who only lets her guard down under duress, but wrote pages of love poems to Terry, and still asks for a morning kiss from her love. Read full review

Stephanie Zacharek

Apr 30, 2020

When you look at the faces of the elderly Donahue and Henschel, even at their most frail, the young women within shine through. It’s enraging that society made them feel they had to hide. But their happiness is the ultimate triumph. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Apr 28, 2020

There’s a French saying, “In love, there is always one who kisses and one who offers the cheek,” and usually, the more interesting story belongs to the one doing the kissing. In A Secret Love, that’s Pat. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Tomris Laffly

Apr 29, 2020

There is no crying in baseball, but you might just be reduced to a puddle of tears while watching Bolan’s film, which finally brings the duo’s love out of the shadows and gives it a long-overdue chance to shine. Read full review

Natalia Winkelman

Apr 30, 2020

It is a compliment that A Secret Love, which runs under an hour and a half, could stand to be longer, with an expanded portrait of Terry and Pat’s early life as a couple. Read full review

Steve Pond

Apr 29, 2020

Affecting at times and downright tear-jerking at others, their story is tied to the saga of gay life in America over the past 70-plus years. Still, it ends up feeling less like a history lesson and more like a universal acknowledgment: growing old with some kind of grace and peace should not be this hard. Read full review

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User Reviews

Calderis

May 5, 2020

Beautiful and very touching. Love wins! The documentary shows the beauty and respect in an AMAZING couple. Highly recommended. Cried a lot.

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ninaxrina

May 2, 2020

It was beautiful. Surely will make viewers pull up their tissues because there is no way you will not shed a tear or two....or ten.

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Mego5

Jun 2, 2020

An amazing documentary! I forgot their was a camera present which is always a good sign. The sensitive, intimate scenes enabled us to fall in love with Terry and Pat, which is a credit to the director, Chris Bolan. Highly recommend, especially now during these tumultuous times. We could allAn amazing documentary! I forgot their was a camera present which is always a good sign. The sensitive, intimate scenes enabled us to fall in love with Terry and Pat, which is a credit to the director, Chris Bolan. Highly recommend, especially now during these tumultuous times. We could all use a little love and inspiration though this universal story.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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