THE NORMAL HEART
US, 2014, 132 minutes, Colour.
Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Alfred Molina, Joe Mantello, Stephen Spinella, BD Wong, Jim Parsons, Adam B.Shapiro, Julia Roberts.
Directed by Ryan Murphy.
Larry Kramer, a gay activist and campaigner on behalf of those infected with AIDS, wrote a play, The Normal Heart, in 1985, outlining the experience of the emergence of AIDS in 1981, the immediate toll that it took on the gay community, homophobic reactions, the lack of funding for medical research, doctors who helped with the community, the various campaigns of the period.
A film version was not able to be made until 2013, which seems very strange given the entertainment industry’s involvement with gay actors. The film was made for television, sponsored by HBO, and received a strong critical response as well is popular favour. Kramer himself wrote the screenplay.
The film opens in 1981, showing the gay community, especially behaviour on Fire Island. But soon, sores appear, they don’t go away, more and more men die and the effect on the immune system leads to the disease being called AIDS.
Mark Ruffalo, in a very vigourous performance, is Ned Weeks, the Larry Kramer character, a crusader rather than negotiator, an angry man who berates the gay community, berates the mayor of New York, berates President Reagan, especially in meetings with their representatives. He has had a hard life, his parents and brother sending him to a psychiatrist when young, an attempted suicide at Yale, an inability to live in partnership until he goes to the New York Times trying to get writers to focus attention on AIDS and encounters Felix (Matt Bomer), a journalist, whom he falls in love with and they live together, Felix eventually manifesting AIDS and dying.
Taylor Kitsch portrays Bruce, whose approach is far different, not outing himself until necessary, heading up negotiations in discussions in support rather than the crusading direct approach. In the office, he is supported by Mike (Joe Mantell who has an extraordinary vigorous speech about AIDS and its sources) and Jim Parsons is the more sympathetic Tommy.
Alfred Molina appears as Ned’s brother, not understanding his brother, doing legal work for him but unable to express affirmation until Felix comes to his office to change his will.
Julia Roberts appears as Dr Brookner, polio victim in her childhood, recognising what is happening with AIDS, haranguing Ned to do something about it, looking after the sufferers, making a vigorous speech in favour of funding.
The film is directed by Ryan Murphy (Running with Scissors, Glee), a gay man as are quite a number of the cast.
1. Originally, a play from the 1980s? No movie follow-up? Larry Kramer, his play, writing the screenplay, semi-autobiographical?
2. The intensity of feeling, the contrast with the quiet title? Real people at heart?
3. New York City, 1981 to 1983, the emergence of AIDS, the mystery of the origins, the manifestations, the sores, the collapse of the immune system, the response of doctors, the anti-gay stances and fears, the government not collaborating, the campaigns, the increasing number of deaths, the emotional toll, the loss of talent? Parents and their sons?
4. Larry Kramer, his work as a crusader, as a crusader in the 1980s? Ned Weeks as a crusader, aggressive, polemical, lacking in patience? The attacks and protests? The group, their growth? Ned on the contrast with Bruce and his approach, quiet, dialogue?
5. The introduction, the gay community, Fire Island and the ferry, the community, the freedoms, promiscuity, promiscuity as a political weapon? Stances? Ned, his friends, on Fire Island, sexual activity, nudity? The stances of the 1970s?
6. Friends, the collapse, the sores, taking the ill man to the hospital? Dr Broockner, in herself, her polio, in the wheelchair, the background of her life? The list of those ill, the treatment, her warnings, her challenging Ned to write, to campaign? Her work and research? No funding? The two years, so many dying, Felix and his treatment? Dr Broockner and the meeting, her blunt talk? The bond with Ned, Felix dying, her mourning him? Her achievement?
7. The situation of AIDS, in New York City, the rest of the United States, France? Pre-Rock? Hudson? Investigations, lack of funding, jealousies and rivalries? The history of treatment for AIDS and the background?
8. Ned, the background of his life, the treatment by his parents, the treatment by his brother, going to a psychiatrist, acknowledging he was gay, the effect, going to Yale, his attempted suicide? Casual relationships? The baths sequence – and Felix’s memory of the encounter? Going to the New York Times, talking with Felix, the fears of the paper, the journalists, not printing material about AIDS? The bond with Felix, living together, their life and its reality, love? Ned and his brother, the lawyer, his inability to hug, taking on the law issues, but basically unsympathetic and judgemental?
9. The group of friends, Bruce, Mike, Tommy? Their forming the company? The volunteer woman and her lesbian background? Ned, speaking to the group, being heckled? Issues of sex, issues of abstinence? Dr Broockner’s advice?
10. The group, the office, the space, their work, phone calls, forming a board, the votes, the meeting of the vote for Bruce as President? The friends,their talks, lovers, difficulties?
11. The campaign, the promotion of the dance, trying to give away invitations? The number turning up? Successful, the later debts at Yale?
12. Bruce as a character, his hidden orientation, gradual revelation, dialogue? Tommy and his sense of feeling, ultimately for Ned? Mike, the elder, his partner, his work as a public servant, his writing, in Brazil, being asked to return, his superior not wanting to see him? The dramatic impact of his outburst and his feelings, thoughts Ned, source of the disease, the responsibility for the spread of the disease?
13. The question if Felix had AIDS and what would Ned do? Not leave? The fact, the sores, care, cleaning Felix, taking him to the doctor, his anger with Felix, throwing the food at him, wanting Felix to do as he wanted, final acceptance, taking him to the doctor, grief?
14. The attack on the mayor, the television and radio interviews, the reaction of the others, the embarrassment of Ned’s outbursts, the visit from the representative of the mayor?
15. Ned being invited to Washington DC, talk with the official, the demands and President Reagan, the points of view of the White House and of Ned?
16. Felix, his life as a journalist, his becoming ill? The encounter with Ned’s brother, wanting to change his will, his collapse, the brother taking into the hospital, finally able to hug Ned?
17. Tommy, his files and lists, removing the names and putting them on other lists: Felix, Bruce, Mike…?
18. The semi-documentary tone of the film? The facts? Memories? Political issues? Health and funding issues? Research? Gay phobia?
19. Looking at these episodes in the retrospective of 30 years?
