“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
“How to Survive a Plague” finally arrived on DVD. It’s a 2012 documentary covering the AIDS epidemic and ACT UPs / TAGs efforts to deal with it.
Definitely not a fun movie to watch.
And at times I would have wished for more background information on the people involved, or on the movement itself. Especially some further reflection where exactly the movement did make mistakes, so that further movements can avoid these mistakes. But despite inevitable mistakes that happen when you fight for something, ACT UP / TAG were incredibly successful.
And with this said — it’s a really good movie. Heartfelt and hopeful. Not only because they covered the people in the movement but went beyond it. They included video footage of people who objected to the development of treatments on so-called “moral” grounds, something which is completely alien to me. And they even looked at their own movement critically.
A really good movie to show what is possible when people fight — literally — for their lives. And some of the protests … I mean, walking up to the White House and emptying the ashes of your partner on the grass to protest government inaction — prrrrmmmhhh.
Like written … a sometimes incredibly sad yet also incredibly hopeful movie.
Highly recommended.
Update: Ah, YouTube (VISO trailers) has a trailer available (*sigh*, so not the best cover image).
