MILK - A review
You may be wondering why a film review on a gay adoption blog?
Well, Harvey Milk's story directly impacts our ability to adopt and foster children. Were it not for Mr. Milk's tireless efforts to get some equality for gay and lesbian people back during his short political life, I truly doubt gay adoption and foster parenting would be a possibility at all.
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In case you were not aware, Gus Van Sant has directed a new film based on the life of gay activist Harvey Milk. The main character is played by Sean Penn and the film traces the beginnings of gay life in the Castro area of San Francisco as well as the election of the first openly gay politician.
Sean Penn, say what you will, is an incredible actor. He plays Harvey so well and never for one moment do you remember that this is the same actor that played the surfer dude in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
As a young gay person coming of age, I heard of Mr. Milk only after he was assassinated. His murderer was a fellow politician from San Francisco who famously blamed his crime on a diet of junk food, the twinkie defense.
That's probably most of what people knew of Mr. Milk but in this movie, viewers learn just how much Harvey Milk accomplished in his short public life. Harvey didn't change into a public figure until after his 40th birthday and in the short time saved many young lives by providing support for young people contemplating suicide, encouraging gays to 'come out' of their closets, and encouraging everyone to support anti discrimination laws for gays everywhere.
The film is all about relationships and dedication. Harvey ran for office and lost multiple times but each time came closer and closer to winning. He sacrifices his own life and relationships for the ideal of actually holding public office as an openly gay man. Once he attains this milestone, he works tirelessly against the religious right and Anita Bryant who publicly demanded that gay people be fired and rejected in every way.
The film also shows Mr. Milk's tireless efforts to improve the lives of not only gays, but seniors, blacks, working people, and children in his district. Mr. Milk was a born politician, in the true sense of the word, forging alliances with unlikely partners like the teamsters union to begin the boycott of Coors beer when Coors would not allow unions. By successfully bringing gay purchasing power into the equation, Harvey was successful in getting unions into Coors and in addition getting Coors to be the first company to hire openly gay drivers.
In today's lens, such victories seem so minor but back then just being an out gay person with a job was an act of defiance.
As I watched this film and the battle against Proposition 6 that is portrayed in the film. Proposition 6 was the law that was up for vote in California that would have enabled the firing of all gays working as school employees as well as the firing of any non-gay people who supported them in any way. The film shows just how close this battle was when Anita and her religious zealots took the fight right to California after winning many state battles.
As one watches this battle for such an evil and draconian law, one cannot help but think about the recent victory by ant-gay marriage forces in California and how it must have hit residents of California who believe in fairness and equality for all.
Needless to say, this movie was deftly directed by Mr. Van Sant, expertly played by Sean Penn and cast, and is so effective in educating and inspiring you to understand just how much love and energy went into getting gay rights as a viable goal onto the world stage.
See the trailer here:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/milk/
See the movie, you will leave the theatre changed in a good way.
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