And the Band Played On, essentially a drama documentary about the battle against one of greatest destructive forces man kind has ever faced and based on the book of the same name. Criminally, this film was all but overlooked in the UK on the time of its release, which was a complete travesty. Unfortunately it came out in the same year as the Tom Hanks vehicle, Philadelphia, which overshadowed any other film on the same subject, but arguably this film is also not only more important, but I would suggest more informative and ultimately more tragic and far more moving than the sentimental yet worthy Hanks/Washington effort.
At the time with its chronological depiction of the unfolding of the AIDS crisis in America in the early 1980s this film received Luke warm reviews and a limited cinema release in the UK in 1993, but following the death of my cousin in 1991, I was keen to see it, and made the effort. When I came out of the cinema I was numb, angry and given a thirst for knowledge on the film. I immediately purchased the book by Randy Shilts, which told the story on a far wider perspective and from many more angles. One of those that were dropped were the perspectives of the Gay men from New York who made up its then social elite and enjoyed their summers on Fire Island. However, one can see that with the films limited budget and running time decisions had to be made to determine what were the right choices to take from the book, that would work effectively and distill into a manageable story. Fortunately all the choices made here, were the right ones.
The story switches successfully between the small group of Doctors at the CDC working to combat the virus from day one in appalling conditions with little or no help from an uncaring Reagen era Adminstration who showed disgusting indifference at the events that were unfolding before them - and the group of Gay Activists that began to form in San Francisco who were having their own troubles convincing the gay community to unite under one banner against a disease that no one wanted to admit might be advancing rapidly in their own community through promiscuity. These difficult and complex subjects are well complimented by stock news footage of the time and the superb leading cast, all excellent, without exception are backed by all manner of big names in key supporting roles. (A worthy commitment from all those involved who did the film for basic scale pay) Director, Spottiswoode handles very moving scenes with great care and has the camera linger at all the right moments. Special mention must go to Lawrence Moonsoon, who deftly handles a dying mans confused re-collection of how his lover and friends died, to Swoozie Kurtz in the scene where her and her husband discover by accident she has been exposed to the virus through a blood transfusion. Ian McKellen is brilliant as gay activist Bill Krause, who tries to convince his own community to act before they have no community left
Mathew Modine anchors the piece nicely as a doctor fighting the bureaucracy and sheer stupidity in a race against time to save lives as more and more Americans drop by the wayside. The subplot involving Doctor Gallo (Alan Alda) who tried to sideline the French and claim discovery of the virus gives real insight into the disgusting level of politics that went on even among health professionals during this critical time.
This is a movie that every teenager in every school should be made to see, not only for the benefit of their own sexual health, but to honour those like Bobbi Campbell (Played by the brilliant Donal Logue) who stood up to be counted in their battle against the virus. It gives a brilliant overview of what happened back in the 1980s and the film has aged well and still stands up today, making it one of the most important films about the AIDS virus ever made.
Prehaps it is time for a bigger budget mini-series which could cover the Eastern Coast perspective of the book, so as to not repeat all the same characters and material.
For anyone with the slightest interest in this subject, this film is a must watch but I would go one stage further and say, that it is a film everyone should see in their life time, even if its not going to be the easiest two hours of your life.
At the time with its chronological depiction of the unfolding of the AIDS crisis in America in the early 1980s this film received Luke warm reviews and a limited cinema release in the UK in 1993, but following the death of my cousin in 1991, I was keen to see it, and made the effort. When I came out of the cinema I was numb, angry and given a thirst for knowledge on the film. I immediately purchased the book by Randy Shilts, which told the story on a far wider perspective and from many more angles. One of those that were dropped were the perspectives of the Gay men from New York who made up its then social elite and enjoyed their summers on Fire Island. However, one can see that with the films limited budget and running time decisions had to be made to determine what were the right choices to take from the book, that would work effectively and distill into a manageable story. Fortunately all the choices made here, were the right ones.
The story switches successfully between the small group of Doctors at the CDC working to combat the virus from day one in appalling conditions with little or no help from an uncaring Reagen era Adminstration who showed disgusting indifference at the events that were unfolding before them - and the group of Gay Activists that began to form in San Francisco who were having their own troubles convincing the gay community to unite under one banner against a disease that no one wanted to admit might be advancing rapidly in their own community through promiscuity. These difficult and complex subjects are well complimented by stock news footage of the time and the superb leading cast, all excellent, without exception are backed by all manner of big names in key supporting roles. (A worthy commitment from all those involved who did the film for basic scale pay) Director, Spottiswoode handles very moving scenes with great care and has the camera linger at all the right moments. Special mention must go to Lawrence Moonsoon, who deftly handles a dying mans confused re-collection of how his lover and friends died, to Swoozie Kurtz in the scene where her and her husband discover by accident she has been exposed to the virus through a blood transfusion. Ian McKellen is brilliant as gay activist Bill Krause, who tries to convince his own community to act before they have no community left
Mathew Modine anchors the piece nicely as a doctor fighting the bureaucracy and sheer stupidity in a race against time to save lives as more and more Americans drop by the wayside. The subplot involving Doctor Gallo (Alan Alda) who tried to sideline the French and claim discovery of the virus gives real insight into the disgusting level of politics that went on even among health professionals during this critical time.
This is a movie that every teenager in every school should be made to see, not only for the benefit of their own sexual health, but to honour those like Bobbi Campbell (Played by the brilliant Donal Logue) who stood up to be counted in their battle against the virus. It gives a brilliant overview of what happened back in the 1980s and the film has aged well and still stands up today, making it one of the most important films about the AIDS virus ever made.
Prehaps it is time for a bigger budget mini-series which could cover the Eastern Coast perspective of the book, so as to not repeat all the same characters and material.
For anyone with the slightest interest in this subject, this film is a must watch but I would go one stage further and say, that it is a film everyone should see in their life time, even if its not going to be the easiest two hours of your life.