I just finished watching the HBO made-for-TV movie based on Larry Kramers The Normal Heart. I am haunted by the history that I personally witnessed first hand. Haunted by the compelling power of the screenplay, by the brilliance of the performances-- most especially but not exclusively by Mark Ruffallo and Julia Roberts. The integrity and authenticity of their rendering had such poignancy, such grace and class. A powerful TV classic was made. It was totally iconic in content and performance. That Larry Kramer took sick for the umpteenth time (at least twice while the film was finally being made) and once again recovered back to a remarkable level of health and well-being--he is an AIDS survivor himself-- is in and of itself a remarkable side bar to this triumph of a TV movie. Its pays magnificent tribute to his courageous bullying the powers that be within the LGBT community and within the city state and federal governments. Kramer almost died in the early 90s and then miraculously the cocktail cure of pills came on line and brought him back to near full recovery...well to at least three decades of remission. He is the quintessential example of resistance and resilience. I hope and trust this HBO movie gets the public coverage it rightly deserves. I would love to see this become a part of any high school and college history curriculum of the 80s and 90s US history. Social Justice only works when there is direct action speaking truth to power. The ruling classes and their political elites conceded nothing without powerful movement and mobilization of courageous rebels with a just cause forcing them to confront their own denial and avoidance. The ever closeted NYC mayor Koch was monstrous in his deliberate refusal to recognize the epidemic killing thousands of gay men. Gay men who were major contributors to the cultural life and the economic vitality of his city. Gay mens and womens artistic innovations and inventions produced enormous wealth for the Big Apple: think fashion, theater, dance, music, arts, crafts, advertising, information processing...etc.
Posted on: Mon, 26 May 2014 04:35:02 +0000
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