Mature themes, coarse language, and sexual references
Origin: United States of America 2008
Genre: Drama
Director: Gus Van Sant
Cast: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin
Running Time: 128 minutes
The story of Harvey Milk commences in his 40th year until his death, when he was living in New York prior to settling in San Francisco. This film provides a biographical account of an American activist who fought for gay rights, becoming the first openly same-sex attracted elected official. The film follows Harvey from New York to San Francisco where he starts to gather supporters around him, as gay activist agitating for political change. Milk finds purpose in being a politician for the gay community, irrespective of whether he is elected or not. It is through these periods that the film craftily explores both Milk’s romantic and public relationships across many political causes, including his tenuous affiliation with troubled Supervisor Dan White.
Directed by Gus Van Sant, who does marvellous work recreating the feel for the times using flashbacks from recorded statements and archival footage, but it is Sean Penn performance as Milk who carries the movie away with his impressive, vivid portrayal.
While others have already told the Harvey Milk’s story Van Sant takes it to another level. Many will find Milk a powerful film,irrespective of the subject matter, that resonates and while others have already covered the topic, this is by far the most engaging.
Sources: IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Rolling Stone
Complied by: William H. Doudle