Harvey, written by mary chase, is the story of elwood p. Dowd as some sort of medium to make people aware of him and contact them in bars every evening. Milk is a 2008 american biographical film based on the life of gay rights activist and politician harvey milk, who was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in california, as a member of the san francisco board of supervisors. The subject of gus van sants new movie is harvey milk, a 1970s. Horning, childrens librarian, author, and educator who has served on numerous influential literary boards, and many book award and evaluation committees, including. The times of harvey milk is a flawless documentary about on e of the most iconic civil rights activists of the 20th century. Harvey fierstein narrates this documentary by rob epstein about san franciscos most colorful and tragic political figure. Cummings bernard november 4, 2010 milk ing a film for all its worth the film milk is a biographical drama about the first openly gay man ever elected to public office, harvey milk.
Gay rights activism turns to political activism as milk decides he can be a more effective voice for the gay community as a politician, elected or not. We know how it ends, but that doesnt dilute the power of sean penns performance as san franciscos gay rights champion harvey milk, writes. In 1977, san francisco politics was taken by storm when gay rights activist harvey milk was elected to the board of supervisors. Harvey milk became one of the first openly gay officials in the united states in 1977 when he was elected to the san francisco board of supervisors. My favourite stories were a letter to harvey milk written from the point of view of the old man in the retirement home who had met h. Analysis of the times of harvey milk essay 1204 words. Upon moving to san francisco from new york city in 1972, forty year old harvey milk gains focus in his life as a gay activist in the citys castro district. Freedom fighter in life becomes potent symbol in death. But penn would be better nominated because the notorious downmouth smiles his way through the entire movie, joyous and. A true twentiethcentury trailblazer, harvey milk was an outspoken human rights activist and one of the first openly gay u.
Milk came back to new york and worked in various jobs including teaching at the high school level and work on the new york stage. Navy before working at a wall street investment firm. In the movie harvey from 1950 in the ending it is made clear that harvey actually exists and is a pooka, some sort of fairy from the celtic mythology apparently he has chosen elwood p. As the first openly gay man elected to public office in the united states, milks election was a triumph over antigay stereotypes. Milks life leading up to his election, his successful efforts to politically represent san franciscos gay community, and the citys reaction to the.
Milk, identity politics and gus van sants art world. Sloan is now worried about how a new movie about harvey milks life, which has just begun production in san francisco, will depict his former boss. Nearly 30 years after the murders, sloan still works for white, performing the quixotic task of spin control for perhaps the most hated man in san franciscos history. A person worth documenting is harvey milk, the first openly gay elected official in the united states who fought for gay rights and inspired equality for the united states. A truly great documentary, the times of harvey milk 1984 has exceeded its. The documentary the times of harvey milk film studies essay. There is a remarkable shot near the end, showing a candlelight march reaching as far as the eyes can see. Operating from his camera store in san franciscos castro district, charismatic harvey milk is defeated three times before being elected to the citys board of supervisors, making him californias first openly gay public official. The following year, both he and the citys mayor george moscone were shot to death by another city supervisor, dan white. The following is a transcript of elizabeth georges january 20, 2014 reading of harvey milks the hope speech, as part of amalia picas now, speak. The times of harvey milk enacts the emotional labor of melodrama in its documentary structures, forestalling closure, visiting and revisiting key points, locating wisdom in a chorus of voices, even orchestrating its massive street scenes through editing as masterfully as if theyd been staged by some brilliant choreographer up above, wings. Directed by gus van slant, it is a depiction of not only milks life, but very apparent themes such as the rise of an underdog and tolerance for others.
Milk is clearly motivated by getting its story and message across with maximum clarity. The times of harvey milk describes the lives and deaths of milk and mayor george moscone, who both were shot dead in 1978 by dan white, one of milks fellow supervisors. Set in the seventies this film explores gay rights issues in san francisco and america in general and the opposition milk experienced to his candidacy and the issues he fought for. Attempts to put milks life to film followed a 1984 d. Navy during the korean war and was discharged in 1955 milk later said that he was dishonourably.
Social and political themes in the movie milk essay bartleby. Harvey changed his castro camera from a small rinky dink shop to become the center of activity in the neighborhood epstein 1984. Film critic david edelstein says the harvey milk biopic, starring sean penn, is one of the most heartfelt portraits of a politician ever made. Elizabeth george is a member of the museums teen arts council.
The hope speech university of maryland, college park. Directed by gus van sant and written by dustin lance black, the film stars sean penn as milk and josh brolin as dan white, a city supervisor, and victor garber as san francisco mayor george moscone. He leaves the closet and new york, opens a camera shop that becomes the salon for san franciscos growing gay community, and organizes gays purchasing power to build political alliances. The oscarwinning the times of harvey milk, directed by robert epstein and produced by richard schmiechen, was as groundbreaking. With his lover scott james franco, he starts out in san franciscos castro district as a small businessowner who witnesses the persecution of gay men and. Using flashbacks from a statement recorded late in life and archival footage for atmosphere, this film traces harvey milks career from his 40th birthday to his death. Harvey bernard milk may 22, 1930 november 27, 1978 was an american politician and the first openly gay elected official in the history of california, where he was elected to the san francisco board of supervisors. In one swirling scene in milk, capturing a sea change the new.
The subject of gus van sants new movie is harvey milk, a 1970s liberal activist and the first major openly gay politician to be elected in the us. Elwoods sister and niece are embarrassed by him and. Milk was murdered in november 1978 by a former colleague, dan white. Gus van sants celebratory portrait of pioneering gay activist harvey milk shows him earning his place in history, in 1977, by being elected to the san francisco board of.
Harvey milk relives coast slaying the new york times. Although he was the most prolgbt politician in the united states at the time, politics and activism were not his early interests. So much is happening in the life of harvey milk and in milk, gus van sants movie about that life that you wonder how harvey portrayed by. The times of harvey milk 1984 by rob epstein and milk 2008 by gus van sant. That would be harvey milk played by sean penn, a neighborhood activist elected to the san francisco board of supervisors in 1977 and murdered, along with the. Sean penn, center, portrays harvey milk, the san francisco city. Van sants movie begins with penn sitting alone at his kitchen table. The rhetorical analysis of the hope speech by harvey milk 942 words 4 pages people have been misrepresented and refuted their basic civil rights in america. Harvey milk fought for gay rights in the mid to late 70s.
Harvey milk american politician and activist britannica. In 1977, harvey milk was elected to the san francisco board of supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into public office in america. Theres even a childrens picture book designed to indoctrinate little ones, titled the harvey milk story. Academy award nominee gus van sant directs academy award winner sean penn as reallife gayrights icon harvey milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in america. Harvey milk, a native of long island, new york, served in the u. He served in the united states navy during the korean war. You get the sense, watching this documentary about his brief public career that he could appreciate the absurdities of life and enjoy a good laugh at his own expense.
Harvey milk is seen as friendly, charming, intense and instinctively political. Milk, identity politics and gus van sants art world socialist web site. To celebrate this great mans special day this 22nd of may, let us once again share these harvey milk quotes. Film works both as a subtle message film and as wellmade movie. Thanks for lending this wren, i really enjoyed this book although it took me forever to read. That dingy office at city hall has been made into a box seat at the theater, an opentopped car on a dallas street, the balcony of a memphis motel. The times of harvey milk 1984 the criterion collection. Harvey milk sean penn milk is a civil rights film about harvey milk, a prominent american gay rights activist in the 1970s who became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in california. It would be both elegy and analysis, eulogy and argument. Dan whites motive more about betrayal than homophobia.
Milk is much more than a martyr movie film critic david edelstein says the harvey milk biopic, starring sean penn, is one of the most heartfelt portraits of a politician ever made. Harvey milks new approach earned him the support of the teamsters, firefighters, and construction unions epstein 1984. Milk was born on long island, ny, the grandson of a department store owner in new york city. If you are part of the lgbt community or simply know your history well, then harvey milk should be well known to you. In 1977, he was voted to the city supervisors board of san francisco. If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door. Academy award nominee gus van sant directs academy award winner sean penn as reallife gayrights icon harvey milk, the first openly gay man to be. One among the foremost feature documentaries that revolve around american gay life, rob epsteins the times of harvey milk, is a creation of advocacy, taking harveys message of equality and hope to a larger audience. Rent the times of harvey milk 1984 on dvd and bluray. Harvey milk, a staunch fighter for gay rights who helped forge a presence for the citys gay community in city hall. He was also serious enough and angry enough about the political issues in his life that he eventually ran for the san francisco board of supervisors and became californias first openly. In milk, sean penn and gus van sant dignify the pathetic death of an important man.
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