It wasn’t too long ago that being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS meant a mostly certain death. The mix of stigmatism and general unawareness of the disease led to little government involvement. Change finally came, but only thanks to a fearless group people. Premiering at Sundance to strong, David France‘s How To Survive a Plague chronicles this uprising. The first trailer has arrived, which looks to do justice to such a vital time in our history. Mostly a mix of archival footage, this could certainly be one of the most infuriating, best documentaries of the year. Check out the stirring first look below via Apple.
Synopsis:
HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE is the story of the brave young men and women who successfully reversed the tide of an epidemic, demanded the attention of a fearful nation and stopped AIDS from becoming a death sentence. This improbable group of activists bucked oppression and, with no scientific training, infiltrated government agencies and the pharmaceutical industry, helping to identify promising new medication and treatments and move them through trials and into drugstores in record time. In the process, they saved their own lives and ended the darkest days of a veritable plague, while virtually emptying AIDS wards in American hospitals in the process. The powerful story of their fight is a classic tale of empowerment and activism that has since inspired movements for change in everything from breast cancer research to Occupy Wall Street. Their story stands as a powerful inspiration to future generations, a road map, and a call to arms. This is how you change the world.
How To Survive a Plague hits theaters on September 21st, 2012.