Films about AIDS tackle the personal, social, and medical challenges faced by those diagnosed with the disease, as well as the impact on their loved ones and communities. The poignant narratives often explore themes of love, prejudice, activism, and resilience, shining a light on an issue that has had profound effects on the global society. Such films serve as powerful tools for education and awareness about the AIDS epidemic.
“Philadelphia”, 1993
Director: Jonathan Demme
One of the first mainstream Hollywood films to address HIV/AIDS, homosexuality, and homophobia. It stars Tom Hanks as a lawyer who is fired from his firm for having AIDS and Denzel Washington as the only willing advocate for a wrongful dismissal suit.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Antonio Banderas, Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, Joanne Woodward, Charles Napier, Robert Ridgely, Bradley Whitford, Ron Vawter;
Production year: 1993;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 125 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Philadelphia” on the website imdb.com
“And the Band Played On”, 1993
Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Based on the best-selling book by Randy Shilts, this film adapts the story of the discovery of the AIDS epidemic and the political infighting of the scientific community hampering the early fight against it.
Starring: Matthew Modine, Alan Alda, Patrick Bauchau, Nathalie Baye, Christian Clemenson, David Clennon, Phil Collins, Bud Cort, Alex Courtney, David Dukes;
Production year: 1993;
Genre: drama, history;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 141 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “And the Band Played On” on the website imdb.com
“Dallas Buyers Club”, 2013
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
This film tells the story of Ron Woodroof, a man diagnosed with AIDS in the mid-1980s when HIV/AIDS treatments were under-researched and highly stigmatized. He smuggles unapproved pharmaceutical drugs into Texas to treat his symptoms and distributes them to fellow patients through the titular “Dallas Buyers Club.”
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Denis O'Hare, Steve Zahn, Michael O'Neill, Dallas Roberts, Griffin Dunne, Kevin Rankin, Donna DuPlantier;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: drama, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 118 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
“The Normal Heart”, 2014
Director: Ryan Murphy
Directed by Ryan Murphy and adapted from Larry Kramer’s play, this film depicts the rise of the HIV/AIDS crisis in New York City between 1981 and 1984, through the eyes of writer/activist Ned Weeks, who founded a HIV advocacy group.
Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons, Julia Roberts, Jonathan Groff, Joe Mantello, B.D. Wong, Alfred Molina, Finn Wittrock;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: drama, melodrama, biography, history;
Age: 18+;
Duration: 132 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
More information about the film “The Normal Heart” on the website imdb.com
“Rent”, 2005
Director: Chris Columbus
Adapted from the Tony-winning Broadway musical, this film follows a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York City, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS affecting their community.
Starring: Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Jesse L. Martin, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Idina Menzel, Tracie Thoms, Taye Diggs, Julia Roth, Porscha Radcliffe;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: musical, drama, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 135 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “Rent” on the website imdb.com
In conclusion, films about AIDS have played a crucial role in humanizing the struggle against a once-mysterious and stigmatized disease, opening the eyes of audiences around the world to the personal and societal battles faced by those affected. From the raw and poignant narratives in early films like “Philadelphia” and “Longtime Companion” to the more recent explorations of the global impact of the epidemic in pictures such as “Dallas Buyers Club” and “How to Survive a Plague,” these stories have fostered empathy, raised awareness, and driven the conversation around HIV/AIDS to new levels of visibility and urgency. Their legacy not only persists in the continued fight against HIV/AIDS but also in the broader context of how cinema can effect change and support activism by bringing to light issues of public health, human rights, and the indomitable spirit of affected communities.
