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Review: The Times of Harvey Milk |
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Written by Greg Randall
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Friday, 26 June 2009 10:31 |
Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in US politics, was brought to wide attention this year by the biopic Milk starring Sean Penn. This attention includes the belated DVD release of The Times of Harvey Milk, a 1984 documentary. Like the biopic it won an Oscar, in this case for best documentary.
Reviewed by ,Greg Randall
Among gay activists, Milk is a well-known figure. It is undoubtedly good that he is becoming known to many others, and that the release of the film has highlighted the struggle of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people for equality, which continues today.
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Film Review by Colin Wilson, (Socialist Review)
Director Gus Van Sant
Harvey Milk, one of the first out gay people elected to public office in the US, arrived in San Francisco aged 42. Having left behind a respectable life as a New York insurance salesman, Milk grew his hair long, joined the city's rapidly growing gay population, and defied both the Democrat and gay establishments by running for the city government position of supervisor.
On his third attempt - after buying a suit, cutting his hair and giving up dope - Milk won. He had the support of LGBT people, but also elderly people and trade unionists such as firefighters and teamsters. He initially won union backing by campaigning in gay bars against anti-union Coors beer. Representing ordinary people and small businesses, he stood for cheaper childcare, free public transport and more democratic controls of the police - who habitually beat up LGBT people.
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Persepolis directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud
reviewed by Sarah Sachs-Eldridge
Based on a graphic novel memoir written by Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis is a treat. An animated film, it is unlike anything I've ever seen before, mainly, but not entirely, in black and white and very simply drawn. It is incredibly beautiful but also dips into a wide range of subject matter; revolution, counter-revolution, war, plus the life-changing events that are part of everyone's adolescence. It is very much about both the political and the personal.
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