THE RYAN WHITE STORY

US, 1989, 100 minutes, Colour.
Judith Light, Lukas Haas, Michael Bowen, Nikki Cox, George Dzundza, Valerie Landsburg, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mitchell Ryan, Grace Zabriskie, George C. Scott.
Directed by John Herzfeld.

Ryan White Story is about a young haemophiliac in the mid 80s who has transfusions of blood tainted with the AIDS virus. He and his family have to cope. While the facing the problem of illness in himself, the prospect of death, coping along with his mother and sister, he has to face the hostility of the town, ignorance and prejudice, the unwillingness to let him into the school. With the help of lawyer Charles Lawn, Ryan white won his appeal against being prohibited from attending school. He ultimately died at the age of 18 at the beginning of 1990.

Lukas Haas (Witness, Solar Babies, See You in the Morning) is persuasive as Ryan White. The real Ryan White acts a small but significant role as the friend Chad in the hospital sequences. Judith Light won an Emmy for her work as Jeannie White. George C. Scott is Charles Lawn. The film is well made, moving without being sentimental - and all the more impact because it is based on a true story. The photos of the real Ryan, Jeannie and Andrea are superimposed on the cast at the end of the film. The film was co-written and directed by John Herzfeld, director of such diverse films as the Olivia Newton-John? John Travolta, Two of a Kind and the violent Father's Revenge with Brian Dennehy.

1. The impact of the telemovie? Human story? Story of illness and the 80s? Ignorance and prejudice? True story?

2. The film designed for the television audience? Presentation of characters, situations? Instructing, inspiring? The atmosphere of Indiana - the collage during the credits? Middle America during the 80s?

3. The film as moral boosting? Inspiring? Instructing? The achievement of Ryan White?

4. The portrait of a family, the ordinary American background, separation and divorce, children and education, the mother working and coping, illness, death, ignorance and prejudice? The courts?



5. The participation of the real Ryan White in the film, as a patient in the hospital? Ryan in the film, his age, the transfusion, haemophiliac, the experience, wanting to return to school after getting better? The prejudice, the students staying home, the adults and their protests against him? The school board?

6. Ryan’s mother, a strong character, working hard, the situation? Actively campaigning for him? His sister Andrea?

7. The hospital sequences, Doctor Kleiman and his help? Laura, sympathetic nurse? The treatment of Ryan in hospital?

8. Charles Vaughan, George C. Scott in the role? The law, his helping Ryan, the filing against the Indiana government? The arguing of the case? His character, interactions with Ryan, the family?

9. Ryan White’s achievement? Dying a year after the making of the film? His becoming a national symbol in understanding of AIDS, breaking down prejudice, assumptions about AIDS sufferers and homosexuality? The relevance of his story to combat prejudices in the years after his death?