HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE - Official Trailer

HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE is the story of the brave young men and women who successfully reversed the tide of an epidemic, demanded the attention of a fearful nation and stopped AIDS from becoming a death sentence. This improbable group of activists bucked oppression and, with no scientific training, infiltrated government agencies and the pharmaceutical industry, helping to identify promising new medication and treatments and move them through trials and into drugstores in record time. In the process, they saved their own lives and ended the darkest days of a veritable plague, while virtually emptying AIDS wards in American hospitals in the process. The powerful story of their fight is a classic tale of empowerment and activism that has since inspired movements for change in everything from breast cancer research to Occupy Wall Street. Their story stands as a powerful inspiration to future generations, a road map, and a call to arms. This is how you change the world.




Official Selection: Sundance Film Festival, New Directors/New films, San Francisco International FF, Provincetown FF, Outfest Documentary Centerpiece, Seattle International FF




"Words like 'important' and 'inspiring' tend too often to be meaninglessly attached to non-fiction filmmaking, but in the case of David France's compelling snapshot of a revolutionary period in AIDS treatment, they are amply justified... An epic celebration of heroism and tenacity, and less directly, a useful template for any fledgling activist movement, demonstrating the effectiveness of inside/outside strategy."
-David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter




"I sat down to watch "How to Survive a Plague," a new documentary about the history of the AIDS epidemic, expecting to cry, and cry I did...I expected to be angry. Here, too, I wasn't disappointed. What I didn't expect was how much hope I would feel. How much comfort. While the movie vividly chronicles the wages of bigotry and neglect, it even more vividly chronicles how much society can budge when the people exhorting it to are united and determined and smart and right. The fight in us eclipses the sloth and surrender, and the good really does outweigh the bad. That's a takeaway of 'How to Survive a Plague,' and that's a takeaway of the AIDS crisis as well."
-Frank Bruni, The New York Times

• Category

  Film & Animation

[AmandaBeeRekendwith]

Thank you to all those who stood up to power. I cannot imagine what this world would be like had you not.

And a special hug to all those who lost a loved one due to society's condemnation and inaction.

[Veronica Gonzalez]

This is beautiful.

[Julian de Mayo]

Hi there, my name is Julian and Im actually developing a project on about the Latino Caucus of ACT UP NY. You can google it, its called ACT UP: Unleashing Latino Power. I would love to get your version of the story. I have so many more people to talk to and celebrate! you can reach me at demayo.j@gmail.com

[Keerti M]

SUNSHINE



[John Temple]

Peter Staley deserves the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was the the flint that lit the fire. So many of us wouldn't be here today if not for what he began.

[heynimrod888]

It's not over. There is not a cure for AIDS yet. People are still dying and being treated as statistics.

[OrchestralSoul]

Soundtrack from Sunshine: v=_0UJk4EUzB0

[localguysmover]

#SURVIVEAPLAGUE YES Thank you to all those who stood up to power. I cannot imagine what this world would be like had you not.

[3manuel101]

the government is going against the first amendment or second or third

[Rob Folan-Johnson]

Infect yourselves. Don't take meds, then see how long you survive ( those of you who are still alive). Good luck looney denialists.

[ReikiDivaNYC]

My brother was diagnosed in '87 and died in '89...miss him every minute of each day. I thank my Latino Caucus of ACT UP friends (Juan Mendez) for teaching me to FIGHT BACK!

[hollygolightly00]

My brother, Tad Gast, participated in the clinical trial for CMV....there were many such Heroes and Sheroes.