Vito Russo was an extraordinary man. A discerning cineaste and movie historian, an
avid gay activist and a leading Aids activist : my kind of hero! In filmmaker Jeffery Schwarz’s awe-inspiring new documentary on Russo’s
action-packed short life we can see the full extent of this remarkable man’s
leadership and involvement in gay rights, his major contribution to gay cinema, and especially the sheer passion that he invested in everything he did.
avid gay activist and a leading Aids activist : my kind of hero! In filmmaker Jeffery Schwarz’s awe-inspiring new documentary on Russo’s
action-packed short life we can see the full extent of this remarkable man’s
leadership and involvement in gay rights, his major contribution to gay cinema, and especially the sheer passion that he invested in everything he did.
Born in 1946 in a tight knit Italian family who much
to young Russo’s distressed moved to New Jersey which he so hated. On his 18th birthday, already very
sexually active, he moved to New York City which was the perfect home for his
boundless energy. He made a sketchy
living writing magazine articles on movies which led him to a position in the Film Dept. at MOMA. There the Curator
encouraged him to research and write about homosexuality in movies before and
after Hollywood’s notorious ‘Production Code’, something that no-one else has ever done before. The result was Russo’s ‘The Celluloid Closet’ which he took in lecture form all over the
world, and as a best selling book, and later posthumously, as a documentary
film.
to young Russo’s distressed moved to New Jersey which he so hated. On his 18th birthday, already very
sexually active, he moved to New York City which was the perfect home for his
boundless energy. He made a sketchy
living writing magazine articles on movies which led him to a position in the Film Dept. at MOMA. There the Curator
encouraged him to research and write about homosexuality in movies before and
after Hollywood’s notorious ‘Production Code’, something that no-one else has ever done before. The result was Russo’s ‘The Celluloid Closet’ which he took in lecture form all over the
world, and as a best selling book, and later posthumously, as a documentary
film.
Soon after the Stonewall uprising in 1969 he
enthusiastically threw himself into gay politics as a leading light in the new
Gay Activist Alliance. In later life he
was a founder member of two of the most important gay groups ever i.e. G.L.A.A.D. (Gay &L Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) and ACT-UP Aids Coalition to Unleash Power)
enthusiastically threw himself into gay politics as a leading light in the new
Gay Activist Alliance. In later life he
was a founder member of two of the most important gay groups ever i.e. G.L.A.A.D. (Gay &L Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) and ACT-UP Aids Coalition to Unleash Power)
From interviews with Russo’s family members
(particularly Patricia his wonderful cousin) we learn that even as young boy he
never ever believed that it was wrong to be gay, or that it was a sin. From his
friends and activists colleagues we hear of his unselfish and dedicated
commitment to fight injustice and also get decent treatment and help for people
with AIDS right to the end even when he was very ill himself.
(particularly Patricia his wonderful cousin) we learn that even as young boy he
never ever believed that it was wrong to be gay, or that it was a sin. From his
friends and activists colleagues we hear of his unselfish and dedicated
commitment to fight injustice and also get decent treatment and help for people
with AIDS right to the end even when he was very ill himself.
Russo was an instigator, a mover, a mouthpiece and
from all accounts a hell of a nice person too.
He achieved so much more in his 44 years that many never even touch upon
in a lifetime that is twice that long.
from all accounts a hell of a nice person too.
He achieved so much more in his 44 years that many never even touch upon
in a lifetime that is twice that long.
A tough movie to watch if you have lived through any
of that time as some of the memories that come flooding are still not at all
easy to deal with. But as time passes it is essential
that crucial and significant people like Russo are remembered for the profound
difference that they made, and the price that they paid for us all. This
excellent profile is a perfect record to help ensure that we, and future
generations, do not forget.
of that time as some of the memories that come flooding are still not at all
easy to deal with. But as time passes it is essential
that crucial and significant people like Russo are remembered for the profound
difference that they made, and the price that they paid for us all. This
excellent profile is a perfect record to help ensure that we, and future
generations, do not forget.
P.S. Currently available in the US on HBO On Demand, and I’m sure will be televised in other countries soon before the DVD is available.
★★★★★★★★★
Labels: biography, documentary, gay
