Schweigen = Tod
Director Rosa von Praunheim explores the reactions of New York City's artistic community to the ravages of the AIDS epidemic and other issues of homosexuality in this haunting documentary. In SILENCE=DEATH, viewers witness a wide range of emotions, including anger, fear, and longing. An important historical document, this film captures these emotions and more in poignant fashion. Artist David Wajnarowicz appears in an unforgettable segment, shaking with anger as he confronts the diseased society that has turned its back on him and all other AIDS victims. Painter Rafael Gamba provides a vengeful indictment of homophobic bigotry. Other segments include Keith Haring sharing his nostalgic longing for the days of carefree sex and Allen Ginsberg's musings on sexual experimentation and attitudes. (Scott Albright, Rovi)
SILENCE=DEATH is the second part of von Praunheim's AIDS trilogy. Together with Part I: POSITIVE he won the TEDDY JURY AWARD 1990.
Part III: FIRE UNDER YOUR ASSES
>>> additional Interview on YouTube: Avram Finkelstein, a member of the Silence=Death Project, talks about AIDS, ACT-UP, institutional silence, Holocaust imagery, street art, and the making of an iconic political image.
details
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Runtime
55 min -
Country
Germany -
Year of Presentation
1990 -
Year of Production
1989 -
Director
Rosa von Praunheim, Phil Zwickler -
Cast
David Wojnarowicz, Rafael Gamba, Paul Smith, Peter Kunz, Don Moffet, Keith Haring, Allen Ginsberg, Emilio Cubiero, Bern Boyle -
Production Company
Rosa von Praunheim Filmproduktion -
Berlinale Section
Panorama -
Berlinale Category
Documentary Film -
Teddy Award Winner
Teddy Jury Award
pictures from the movie
Biography Rosa von Praunheim
Born in Riga, in 1942. He studied at the University of Art and Design Offenbach am Main and at the Berlin University of the Arts. In 1967, von Praunheim directed his first short films. He made his cinema breakthrough in 1971 with the documentary Nicht der Homosexuelle ist pervers, sondern die Situation, in der er lebt.
Filmography Rosa von Praunheim
1971 Nicht der Homosexuelle ist pervers, sondern die Situation, in der er lebt | 2016 Welcome All Sexes: 30 Jahre Teddy Awards | 2017 Überleben in Neukölln
Biography Phil Zwickler
Filmmaker and writer about gay and lesbian issues and the AIDS crisis. Philip was known for his work on Rights and Reactions: Lesbian & Gay Rights on Trial , an award-winning documentary covering the 1986 New York City Council hearings on the gay rights bill (1988). He collaborated with David Wojnarowicz to produce Fear of Disclosure (1994), a short film about the issues gay men face dating in the context of AIDS.
Phil also worked with experimental German film maker, Rosa von Praunheim, to produce "Silence Equals Death" and "Positive," both exploring the emotions and anger of people with AIDS. The film "Positive" includes interviews with Zwickler and two other men who were HIV-positive. He produced his final project, "The Needle Nightmares" (1991), with the help of David Meieran.
Phil also worked as a news reporter, publishing stories in the Village Voice and serving as editor of the People with AIDS Coalition Newsline for a number of years. Before working in film and journalism, he taught literature in New York City public schools and community colleges.
He died from the complications of AIDS , aged 36, in Manhattan, New York City, New York.
-findagrave.com