Milk

Last night I went with my small team (Andrew and Carla) to see Milk, the film about the political career of Harvey Milk who was the first openly gay man elected to political office in California and probably the whole of the US. He was assassinated shortly after taking office. I won’t give away too much of the story but it is one of the best films I have seen. I was a little concerned about Sean Penn playing the role but he was totally absorbing as were all of the supporting cast. The film doesn’t deal with Harvey Milk’s life before he got into politics which in one way was a shame but as the film wanted to show his political life and his legacy I can understand why time could not be spent on the back story before the 1970s.

Andrew and Carla were so impressed by the film they have written a review which they have submitted to our work place intranet including a transcript of Milk’s hope speech from the close of the film. I would really recommend going to see the film, it is as enlightening about grass roots politics and the difference a small group of people can make as it is enlightening about gay rights and equality. The scenes depicting 1976 onwards also to me seemed really evocative of the late 70s when I was a very small child, The fashions and the hair cuts, the way of talking just took me right back to a different world.

There is also something very poignant about the film in light of Barack Obama’s election as President. If it hadn’t been for people like Harvey Milk and his supporters Barack Obama’s victory just couldn’t have happened.