While certainly a considerable threat to this day, it's easy to forget how massively destructive the country's AIDS epidemic was in the 1980s — and how little politicians and health administrations did to curb it. Refusing to let go without a fight, a collective of Greenwich Village activists formed "ACT UP" (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power) and took to the streets, forcing the conversation to be had. The group's effort yielded a fantastic number of developments in the battle against the disease, including quickly pushing essential medication into pharamacies.
Journalist and first-time filmmaker David France has documented that struggle in "How To Survive A Plague," predominantly using archival video footage shot by "ACT UP" members themselves. Premiering at this past year's Sundance Film Festival, the documentary scored positive reviews and quickly secured a distribution deal: it will roll out in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco on September 21st, with more dates and locations to follow. We've got the trailer below, and beside the already interesting topic and aesthetic, the thing looks downright riveting, even epic. Check it out, and be sure to keep this one on your radar.
