Kritiken

The story alone is compelling (lay people band together, bone up on medical literature, and actually change both public policy and private companies: amazing!) and the documentary does it justice. Using loads of footage shot by group members themselves and television news crews of the 80s, the palpability of death comes through as strongly as it can in cinema.

For all its good intentions, How To Survive a Plague is not especially suited to the gracious storytelling medium of celluloid. With its unsculpted time-capsule quality it seems destined to live in the hands of those who would deploy it as an empowering and important history lesson.

A rare documentary that will move you to tears and outrage with absolutely no pandering, manipulation or softening of the subject's complex science, How to Survive a Plague is that rare animal — required viewing for those interested in the subject and in cinema itself. It's one of the year's best films. Full stop.

Of course, on a global scale the story is far from over, but France, drawing on a wealth of video footage from inside the organization, turns that decade of rage, despair, and tenacity into an inspiring tale of effective political action.

France is always careful not to confuse "tribute" with "nostalgia." Ann Northrup recalls the less-harmonious moments in ACT UP's history, "the inevitable splits in priorities" and "the charges of sabotages and threats." Amplifying this, France includes electrifying footage of Larry Kramer, the catalyst behind the activist group, erupting during a meeting after a prolonged exchange between unseen, nasty cavilers

How to Survive a Plague occasionally taps the personal, as individuals like frontline warrior Bob Rafsky grow frailer with each passing birthday party. But the true value of the film is universal: These kids study the knotty viral science, pressure doctors into taking daring, inventive steps and make their cause a global emblem. It forces you to wonder why we can't have two "greatest generations." Every fighter, whatever the cause, is expected to attend.