Even when it necessarily tackles the difficulties that are part and parcel of same-sex love in the 20th century, there’s something pleasant about the way A Secret Love is told. The documentary puts Terry and Pat’s love above all else, so even though we hear about how they had to tear the bottom pages of their letters to avoid getting caught, or how they had to split from close family members after coming out, things never feel too heavy or dire because at the end of the day, they’re still together, their decades-old companionship a beautiful example of how love wins. And aside from giving us an intimate look at this rare win for elderly closeted couples, A Secret Love serves as an insightful portrait of elderly life. Terry and Pat, with their perseverance and unyielding support, make aging look beautiful rather than scary.
""A Secret Love" is full of the kind of gentle ribbing and loving chuckles one would expect from any adorable old couple, but it's made all the more poignant by the fact of Pat and Terry's trailblazing personal histories."
— Jude Dry
"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 freely."
— Tomris Laffly
Amid shifting times, two women kept their decades-long love a secret. But coming out later in life comes with its own set of challenges.
Amidst sickness and housing issues, Terry and Pat finally come out to their family members after more than 60 years of being together.
Much of the film’s tension comes from the fraught relationship between Pat and Terry’s niece, Diana. The two love Terry dearly, but it turns into a competition almost of who loves Terry more and who should be near her during her twilight years. It reads trivial on paper, but it’s actually one of the most relatable parts of the film, that passionate rivalry that can only come from too much love. The heated discussion Pat and Diana engage in is absolutely one of the highlights of the film, and its resolution a masterclass in solving familial woes.
If watching this doesn't make you believe in true love, I’m not sure anything else will.
