Over the years I have seen dozens of films dedicated to the AIDS epidemic that terrorized the world during the early 1980s. But even when compared to all the others, none has been quite as moving and intellectually crafted as David Weissman's Sundance 2011 film We Were Here.
Taking a group of men and one woman, Weissman documents them spilling their hearts as they relive the massacre; educating us as we take a look at the epidemic through their eyes. From an infected patron to a support group member to a nurse, points of view vary wildly as we explore the world of San Francisco as it underwent a major transformation as a city surviving a decade of shock and awe.
The film's message has been heard before, countless times actually. However, never has it been presented in such a universal light. The mixture of archived footage with present day interviews focuses predominately on San Franscico's Castro Street. Gay, straight or bi, this film speaks volumes as a group of misfits come together to showcase a community of compassion, caring and internal strength as they weathered the storm and forged on through one of man's darkest hours.
We Were Here will effect every person differently. Many audience members cried, while others felt empowered through the courageous actions of those telling their stories; however, at the end of the day, it isn't any one action that makes the story remarkable. It is the collective, the group that was bound together for one simple cause: survival.
