The documentary 25 to Life, which made my list of ‘Films of Color’ to see, tackles the importance of keeping the conversation of HIV and AIDS on the table.
There are still misconceptions surrounding HIV/AIDS. People young and old seem to believe that there is a cure for the virus and that it is a Gay man’s disease. Society forgot that the virus can be contracted through unprotected sex, intravenous needles, and in William Brawner’s case - who is the star of 25 to Life - a blood transfusion, which he received back in the 1980s.
Surprisingly the film wasn’t just about Brawner dealing with life after revealing his HIV status to friends, family and casual sex partners after 25 years of keeping his diagnosis a secret. At some point of the movie the HIV story was overshadowed by several issues that plagues Black American culture. Fatherless sons, how to be a man, promiscuity and denial were the main topics that stuck out to me.
25 to Life producer, Khaliah Neal, explains in the following video that the short break from HIV was unintentional but found it necessary to let the stereotypes that haunts Black Americans play out on screen.
Tune in to Vincent Harris' take on how he supports the HIV/AIDS community, and his thoughts on 25 to Life.
To get up to speed on what’s been covered on 25 to Life check out:
Also, watch out the trailer of 25 to Life and keep your eyes and ears peeled for she it hits a film festival near you.
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