AIDS Show: Artists Involved With Death and Survival

AIDS Show: Artists Involved With Death and Survival	Email This Page
Filmmaker: Robert Epstein and Peter Adair

VHS - $ 95.00
Price includes Public Performance License.
The AIDS show was made by Robert Epstein, director of the Academy Award-winning The Times of Harvey Milk and Peter Adair who produced (and co-directed with Epstein) Word is Out. "We had talked for a long time about doing a documentary that looked at the impact of AIDS on our community," says Adair, "Not a medical film, but one that would address the more intangible, invisible effects." Says Epstein, "We were moved by the powerful interplay of humor and drama in the show and were struck by how accessible it was for diverse audiences. We set out to capture its spirit on film." Their narration ties the work together informatively, while retaining the play's engaging theatrics. In the video one young man speaks gently of scattering the ashes of his best friend. Another, an AIDS patient, chides a doting companion, "Stop being supportive. Just be my friend." An embittered nurse complains of the dangers she thinks she is exposed to by AIDS patients on the cancer ward. A mother speaks simply yet eloquently of love and acceptance for her gay son who lies dying. These are only a few over the voices -- poignant, humorous and profound - which explore the emotional impact of the disease. This thoughtful and provocative documentary is suitable for high school, college and adult audiences. It portrays social interaction among gays in a way that is neither purged nor sanitized. Yet the messages of the work are important for a community much larger than only gays. The AIDS Show is ideal not only for discussions of the AIDS epidemic and health, but also for studies of human sexuality, prejudice and understanding, theatre performance, death and dying, ritual and friendship. With both pride and humor, The AIDS Show demonstrates that while the epidemic is a major tragedy, society can rebound, becoming stronger and more compassionate than ever. Running time: 58 min., Year released: 1986 Close captioned?: N, Color?: Y Avail. formats: VHS ISBN: 1-55974-070-1 Language: English, Subtitled?: N For classroom?: Y, Study Guide?: N Grade level: 7th and up Reviews: "The Aids Show is a funny, tender, at times angry - and ultimately human - documentary...Epstein and Adair's documentary touches on an enormous range of feelings, fears, nightmares and hopeful dreams about AIDS. In the end, it poses the only 'solution' available: to persevere and endure through our own best resources of humanity and humaneness." --S.F. Chronicle "A complex production, often deeply moving, sometimes very funny, that gets away from the sanitizing "objectivity" of a news report or panel discussion." --The New York Times Other Credits: Produced and Directed by Peter Adair & Robert Epstein
Blue Ribbon Winner, American Film Festival
This title can also be found in: AIDS, American Film Festival Award Winners, Artists, Musicians & Performers, Gay & Lesbian, Health, HIV, Medical Issues, Medicine & Medical Professionals, Theater