Philadelphia is a 1993 American drama film directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. The film follows the story of Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks), a successful lawyer who is fired from his prestigious law firm after they discover that he has AIDS. Andrew decides to sue the law firm for wrongful dismissal and hires Joe Miller (Denzel Washington), a homophobic lawyer who initially rejects his case but eventually takes it on.
As the trial progresses, Andrew's health deteriorates and he faces both social and legal discrimination. However, Joe begins to overcome his own prejudices and starts to fight fiercely for Andrew's rights. Their friendship develops as they work tirelessly to overcome the powerful adversaries of the law firm.
Ultimately, the trial ends with a powerful and emotional closing argument by Joe, who passionately argues for the value and dignity of human life, regardless of an individual's medical condition or sexual orientation. The verdict is in favor of Andrew and the law firm is found guilty of AIDS discrimination.
Philadelphia is a groundbreaking and critically acclaimed film that helped to raise awareness of the discrimination and stigma faced by those living with AIDS in the 1990s. Tom Hanks won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Andrew Beckett, and the film also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia".