Eleven-year-old Dexter, has contracted the AIDS virus from a blood transfusion and is now shunned by the townsfolk in his small, Minnesota hometown. Except for his loving, nurturing mother, Dexter lives a life of lonely isolation until he meets Erik, a tough, young neighbor boy who befriends him. The new acquaintance must remain a secret however, for like the rest of the community, Erik's overworked, embittered mother is fearful of any contact with the afflicted Dexter and forbids her son to see him. But the bond between the boys soon grows strong. When Erik's mom discovers their friendship, she threatens to send Erik away to summer camp, endangering their relationship. They read a tabloid story of a doctor in New Orleans who claims to have discovered a cure for AIDS, and the two decide to escape, embarking on a perilous journey from their Minnesota hometown down the Mississippi River towards New Orleans. Along the way, they discover the enduring power of courage and hope.

Director:
Peter Horton	Director
Bill Borden	Director (2nd Unit)
Ronnie Rondell	Director (2nd Unit)
Cast:
Joseph Mazzello	as Dexter
Brad Renfro	as Erik
Diana Scarwid	as Gail
Bruce Davison	as Dr Stevens
Annabella Sciorra	as Linda
Aeryk Egan	as Tyler
Delphine French	as Tyler'S Girlfriend
Andrew Broder	as Tyler'S Buddy
Jeremy Howard	as Tyler'S Buddy No 2
Rosemary Corman	as Elderly Woman In Street
T Mychael Rambo	as Garbage Man No 1
David Alan Smith	as Garbage Man No 2
Delia Jurek	as Angry Woman
Fran Korba	as Elderly Woman In Market
John Lynch	as Skipper No 1
John Beasley	as Skipper No 2
Raymond Nelson	as Skipper No 3
Scott Stockton	as Skipper No 4
Dale Handevidt	as Skipper No 5
Nicky Katt	as Pony
Craig Gierl	as Jim
Renee Humphrey	as Angle
Stephen D'Ambrose	as Bus Station Clerk
Shirley Venard	as Nurse Snyder
Mary Mccusker	as Nurse Murphy
Peter Moore	as Male Nurse
Rodney W England	as Final Doctor
Bill Schoppert	as Funeral Director
Samantha Lemole	as Funeral Attendant
Cory Shubert	as Leadman
Cinematography:
Andrew Ditenfass	Director Of Photography
Michael Gershman	Director Of Photography (2nd Unit)
Frank Pershing Flynn	Director Of Photography (2nd Unit)
Travis Schwingle	Camera Assistant
Chris Haifley	Camera Assistant
Russell Mcelhatton	Camera Operator
Michael Gershman	"B" Camera Operator
Vincent J Donohue	"B" Camera Operator
Kim Guthrie	1st Assistant Camera
Brian Dimitri Sullivan	1st Assistant Camera
Rosalie Seifert	2nd Assistant Camera
J R Thompson	"B" Camera 1st Assistant Camera
Moe Flaherty	1st Assistant Camera (2nd Unit)
M Scott Banac	2nd Assistant Camera (2nd Unit)
Greg Bubb	Steadicam Operator
Writer:
Robert Kuhn	Screenwriter
Robin Anderson	Script Supervisor
Diane Mccarthy	Script Supervisor
Producer:
Mark Burg	Producer
Eric Eisner	Producer
Todd R Baker	Executive Producer
Bill Borden	Executive Producer
Editing:
Anthony Sherin	Editor
Craig Christy	Lightworks Editing Systems Provider (Christy'S Post Production Center)
Jim Schulte	Assistant Editor
Catherine Chase	Assistant Editor
Tim Sternberg	Assistant Editor
Martin A Kloner	Assistant Editor
Saar Klein	Associate Editor
Neal Anderson	Dialogue Editor
Patrick N Sellers	Dialogue Editor
Laura Harris	Dialogue Editor
Clint Deboer	Dialogue Editor
Music:
Dave Grusin	Music
Marc Cohn	Song
Marc Cohn	Song Performer ("My Great Escape")
Sandy De Crescent	Music Contractor
Scott Grusin	Music Editor
Assistant Direction:
Christine Larson-Nitzsche	1st Assistant Director
Keri Mcintyre	2nd Assistant Director
Jerry Grandey	1st Assistant Director (2nd Unit)
Phil Elins	Second 2nd Assistant Director
Art Director:
Troy Sizemore	Art Director
Visual Effects:
Paul Murphy	Special Effects
Bruce R Anderson	Special Effects Assistant
Make-Up:
Darcy Knight	Key Hair And Makeup Artist
Brigette A Myre	Second Makeup Artist
Sherry Heart	Second Hair Stylist
Costume-Wardrobe:
Louise Frogley	Costume Designer
Tangi Crawford	Costume Supervisor
Susie Tviet	Seamstress
Ingrid Lenie	Wardrobe Assistant
Susan Strubel	Additional Wardrobe Assistant
Art Department:
Patty Kirwin	Art Department Coordinator
Rachel Kapel	Art Department Coordinator
Jason Wolf	On Set Dresser
Annie Miller	Set Costumer
Claire Bowin	Set Decorator
Alan Hoffman	Storyboard Artist
Paul Kline	Art Department Assistant
Production Designer:
Armin Ganz	Production Designer
Sound:
Anthony J Miceli	Supervising Sound Editor
Peter Lehman	Sound Editor
Jeff Largent	Sound Editor
Rick Morris	Sound Editor
Frederick H Stahly	Sound Editor
Matthew Quast	Production Sound Mixer
Elizabeth Tobin Kurtz	Assistant Sound Editor
Travis Meck	Assistant Sound Editor
Robert W Glass	Re-Recording Mixer
Stanley Kastner	Re-Recording Mixer
Dan Wallin	Re-Recording Mixer
Brian Lucas	Dubbing Recordist
Tom Steel	Dubbing Loader
David Mcmoyler	Audio Post-Production Coordinator
Bob Beher	Foley Supervisor
Harry Harris	Foley Editor
Michael Sandgren	Foley Editor
Robert Deschane	Foley Mixer
Dana Porter	Foley Recordist
Dana Porter	Adr Recordist
Steven Kates	Adr Production Assistant
Robert Deschane	Adr Mixer
Barney Cabral	Adr Supervisor
Casting:
Mali Finn	Casting
Lynn Blumenthal	Casting (Minneapolis)
Emily Schweber	Casting Associate
Nancy Briggs	Casting Assistant
Lily Chorolec	Extras Casting
Stunts:
Laura Dash	Stunts
Rusty Hanson	Stunts
Gary Guercio	Stunts
Manny Perry	Stunt Driver
Steve M Davison	Stunt Coordinator
Publicity:
Douglas Allen Taylor	Unit Publicist
Production Companies:
Island Pictures	Production Company
Gala Catering Inc	Production Company
	Production Company
Animal Connection	Production Company
R C Baral & Company Inc.	Production Company
Skywalker Sound	Production Company
Joann Kane Music Service	Production Company
Soundelux	Production Company
Olympic Sound Studios	Production Company
Christy'S Post Production Center	Production Company
Magic Films & Video Works	Production Company
Hart Video	Production Company
Crc Productions	Production Company
Broyles/Okun Film Design	Production Company
Turner Entertainment Company	Production Company
City Of Stillwater	Production Company
Parks Department Of Edina	Production Company
Minneapolis Office Of Film & Video	Production Company
Police Department Of Stillwater	Production Company
Police Department Of South St Paul	Production Company
Sheriff'S Department	Production Company
Minnesota Film & Tv Board	Production Company
City Of Minneapolis Park Board	Production Company
Wolf Marina	Production Company
Medical Technical Advisorship	Production Company
Buberl Landscaping	Production Company
Sureway Air Express	Production Company
Panavision, Ltd.	Production Company
John L Sims	Cableman
Universal Pictures	Domestic Theatrical Distributor
Shochiku-Fuji Company Ltd	Foreign Theatrical Distributor
Island World Films Inc	Foreign Distribution Sales
Universal Studios Home Entertainment	Domestic Video Distributor
Film Production - Main:
Julie Hartley	Production Supervisor
Michael D Roberts	Production Accountant
John C Warren III	Production Assistant
Maureen Sullivan	Production Assistant
Ryan Beyer	Production Assistant
Cheryl M Broussard	Production Assistant
Don Skahill	Production Assistant
Beth Smith	Production Assistant
Steven Kelly	Production Assistant
Peter Lawler Mullin	Production Assistant
Peter Thompson	Production Assistant
Mary Ludington	Production Assistant
Victor Vasquez	Production Assistant
Gerard Bonnette	Boom Operator
David J Meyers	Best Boy
Peter Clemence	Best Boy Grip
C Elizabeth Trumble	Assistant Production Coordinator
Milo Durben	Dolly Grip
Lynn Ashby	Driver
Michael J Kennedy	Driver
Ronda R Rae	Driver
Jerry Mcgrew	Driver
Frank Ketchum	Driver
Rick Currens	Driver
Wade P Ehlen	Driver
Eugene Kisch	Driver
Michael Arnold	Driver
David Evans	Driver
Scott Edward Johnson	Driver
Marty Smith	Driver
Rudolph Beilicke	Driver
Ed Crabtree	Driver
James Donahue	Gaffer
Tony Tucker	Gaffer (2nd Unit)
Niel Williams	Grip; Grip (2nd Unit)
William Hobson	Grip
Lisa Van Dyke	Grip
Mitch Lillian	Key Grip
Vivian Zink	Still Photographer
Bill Schwab	Projectionist
Bob Wiesner	Swing
J F Ferraro	Swing
Jeffrey Daniels	Swing
John A Champion	Swing
Wesley S Bloom	Transportation Captain
Kenny Mason	Transportation Coordinator
Stephen Golden Jr.	Craft Service Assistant
Adam Timberlake	Craft Service Assistant
Barbara O'Brian	Animal Wrangler
Film Production - Unit:
Steven Brown	Unit Production Manager
Film Production - Construction/Set:
Mary Goman	Construction Office Manager
Brian Langsdorf	Construction Coordinator
Norine J Francis	Props Assistant
Ingrid Wilcox	Props Assistant
Paul Forneris	Carpenter
Dann Oberfeld	Carpenter
Patrick Owen	Carpenter
Kirk Erickson	Carpenter
Steven Eastlack	Carpenter
Jason Wahlstrom	Carpenter
James Brown	Carpenter
Charles Tellinghuisen	Carpenter
Randy Austin	Carpenter
Emi Jo Winner	Carpenter
Tim Schwob	Construction Foreman
Barry Franenberg	Property Master
Rick Bioni	Property Master Assistant
Film Production - Lighting/Electrical:
Thomas Franchett	Electrician
Chris Malone	Electrician
Thomas O'Connor	Electrician
Post Production:
Dan Genetti	Post-Production Supervisor
Jenny Manriquez	Post-Production Coordinator
Mike Trull	Post-Production Assistant
Mike Stanwick	Color Timer
Location Manager:
Molly Allen	Location Manager
Assistant Location Manager:
David K Pressman	Assistant Location Manager
Anne Healy	Assistant Location Manager
Misc. Crew:
Michael Kolko	Assistant Accountant
Mary Mccusker	Acting Coach
Melina Watts	Assistant (To Peter Horton)
Bethenny Frankel	Assistant (To Mark Burg)
Michael Benson	Assistant (To Todd Baker)
Thomas G Perrigo	Caterer
Patrick Carey	Caterer
Joe Coble	Caterer
Nina Foch	Consultant To Peter Horton
Dan Dustin	Set Medic
Kurt Gensmer	Set Medic
Linda Olson	Other
Stuart Skrien	Other
Afshin Shahidi	Other
Barry Rosenbush	Product Placement
Barry Rosenbush	Clearance
John David Paul	Various
Afshin Shahidi	Various
Jon Dragan	Various
Joseph Batorski	Various
Nancy Derby	Various
David Duke	Various
Todd Stenson	Various
Christian Nielson	Various
Stuart Skrien	Various
Lynn Isaacson	Various
Brett Bowin	Various
James G Depaulis	Various
Mark Pakulski	Various
Matt Dodge	Various
Sam Dodge	Various
Mark Wojohn	Various
Linda Olson	Various
Elizabeth Glaser	Various
Special Thanks:
Barb Symalla	Special Thanks
Dr. Carin Nielsen	Special Thanks
Dr. Michael Lamacchia	Special Thanks

Released in United States May 1995

Released in United States on Video October 24, 1995

Released in United States Spring April 21, 1995

Shown at Cannes Film Festival (market) May 17-28, 1995.

Script was reportedly purchased for $1,000,000.

Began shooting July 11, 1994.

Completed shooting September 1994.

Released in United States Spring April 21, 1995

Released in United States May 1995 (Shown at Cannes Film Festival (market) May 17-28, 1995.)

Released in United States on Video October 24, 1995