Tuesday night, I saw a screening of the new HBO film Life Support. I was interested to see it primarily because it was directed and co-written by Nelson George. In the end, it turned out to be worthy on its own merits.
There have been a number of films about people dying of HIV/AIDS, but not so many about people living with AIDS. Life Support focuses on the African American community in Brooklyn, specifically on an ex-crackhead, now turned activist. The character of Ana Wallace is based on George’s own sister Andrea.
HIV/AIDS in the black community is a huge issue that never seems to get the attention it deserves. From the CDC:
According to the 2000 census, African Americans make up approximately 13% of the US population. However, in 2005, African Americans accounted for 18,510 (49%) of the estimated 38,096 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the United States in the 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting.
The film focuses a number of interesting issues: facing the personal health issues of the virus, getting women to understand the important of protection and getting their partners to be tested, the complexities of getting into and maintaining a relationship with a man now that you are HIV-positive, the difficulties of repairing relationships with your loved ones after years of drug addiction.
Trust me, a movie about AIDS doesn’t typically sound like a rip-snorting good time to me, but Life Support is extremely well-made, with a cast featuring professional actors and real people and some very naturalistic dialogue. There’s a great bit with a guy hoping he got that Magic Johnson AIDS, so he can open up a chain of movie theaters.
The movie features a terrific cast, including Queen Latifah, Wendell Pierce (The Wire) and Anna Deavere Smith (The West Wing). It premiers this Saturday on HBO.
Tags: Life Support, HBO, Nelson George, Queen Latifah, Wendell Pierce, HIV/AIDS