Disc Reviews

How To Survive A Plague Review

• 27th Mar 2014

‘How to survive a plague’ is a deeply moving and inspirational documentary feature from Director David France which in my view fully deserved its Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature. An engaging and shocking film, ‘How to survive a plague’ tells the story of the AIDS activist group ‘Act Up’ which began in the gay community in early 80’s New York, and became one of the most trailblazing groups of self-made single cause activists the world has ever seen.

This inspirational film had unfettered access to an goldmine of archival material and the footage has been put together extremely well alongside contemporary interviews to tell the tale of how this group, and their supporters in the medical community, managed to infiltrate the pharmaceutical industry and speed up the identification and human trials of new drugs enabling AIDS to no longer be a death sentence. It is hard to imagine those times, so recent, despite having lived through them myself. Fighting also against political indifference and prejudice from all quarters, this group of pioneers were brave and imaginative yet David France does not shy away from portraying the everyday, controversies, internal disputes and the suffering that went on amongst them.

There is a real sense of identification with the subjects achieved by the end  of the feature, despite the viewer (in my case) having almost nothing in common with these activists apart from a deep sympathy for their movement and awe at their accomplishments in the face of such adversity. It was heartening to see what had become of the main protagonists, and their lives and battles both inside and out so sensitively but not mawkishly portrayed. Their resilience and passion really shine through this beautiful piece of work, a thoughtful and detailed portrayal of those who literally would not lay down and die. An inspiration to us all.

Claire Hyypiä