In 1976, at a prestigious Catholic boys’ school in Melbourne, Tim Conigrave and John Caleo experienced a profound and intense love affair. Their dramatic and passionate relationship spanned 16 years, during which they encountered societal disapproval, various temptations, periods of separation, and the ever-present threat of mortality. This enduring romance has been captured in Conigrave’s autobiography, “Holding the Man,” published after his death and adapted into a significant Australian film by director Neil Armfield. This narrative tells the true story of how two young men found each other and how their first love not only survived but thrived against the odds.