Silence=Death

Deutschland, 1989
Length
55 minutes
Director
Phil Zwickler
Cast
  • David Wojnarowicz
  • Rafael Gamba
  • Paul Smith
  • Peter Kunz
  • Don Moffet
  • Keith Haring
  • Allen Ginsberg
  • Emilio Cubiero
  • Bern Boyle

Content

Director Rosa von Praunheim explores the reactions of New York City's artistic community to the ravages of the AIDS epidemic and other issues of homosexuality in this haunting documentary. In SILENCE=DEATH, viewers witness a wide range of emotions, including anger, fear, and longing. An important historical document, this film captures these emotions and more in poignant fashion. Artist David Wajnarowicz appears in an unforgettable segment, shaking with anger as he confronts the diseased society that has turned its back on him and all other AIDS victims. Painter Rafael Gamba provides a vengeful indictment of homophobic bigotry. Other segments include Keith Haring sharing his nostalgic longing for the days of carefree sex and Allen Ginsberg's musings on sexual experimentation and attitudes. (Scott Albright, Rovi)

SILENCE=DEATH is the second part of von Praunheim's AIDS trilogy. Together with Part I: POSITIVE he won the TEDDY JURY AWARD 1990.

Part III: FIRE UNDER YOUR ASSES

>>> additional Interview on YouTube: Avram Finkelstein, a member of the Silence=Death Project, talks about AIDS, ACT-UP, institutional silence, Holocaust imagery, street art, and the making of an iconic political image.

Gallery

Credits

Production company
Rosa von Praunheim Filmproduktion
Original title
Schweigen = Tod