LIFE SUPPORT
US, 2007, 87 minutes, Colour.
Queen Latifah, Anna Deavere Smith, Wendell Pierce, Rachel Nicks, Evan Ross, Gloria Reuben, Tony Rock, Tracee Ellis Ross.
Directed by Nelson George.
Life Support is a television film made by HBO. It is based on a true story, the portrait of a woman, Ana, who had a hard upbringing, clashed with her mother, had a daughter, married a man who was a drug addict and became an addict herself. She is played in an award-winning performance by Queen Latifah. The actual Ana is seen in footage in the final credits.
The film focuses on her work as a support and counsellor, especially for women suffering from AIDS or who are connected with men with AIDS. She herself has been rehabilitated but has health difficulties, not taking care of herself, in danger of losing the use of her feet. However, we see her at meetings, helping clients, walking the streets to help others.
However, she has difficulties within her own family, her teenage daughter living apart, doing studies and wary of her mother. She lives at home with her husband, Slick (Wendell Pierce) and her young daughter. She clashes often with her mother (Anna Deveare Smith). Her mother accuses her of being self-centred which, in some ways, she is, but she is also very strong-minded and determined.
One aspect of the plot is her searching for a friend of her daughter, a gay young man who has terminal AIDS.
Ana is held up as a role model and an encouragement, especially for women, and African- American women.
1. A true story? Personal heroism, role model? American story, New York City, drugs and violence, AIDS and care? The final photos of the characters?
2. New York City, the 1990s in the beginning of the 21st-century, AIDS and the consequences, health, depression, counselling, meetings and discussions, the promotion of packs of condoms, safety for health, husbands and wives? The world of women, African- American? Relationship with men? The young, the women, hopes for the future?
3. The atmosphere in New York City, homes and apartments, the streets, ordinary life, shops, meeting places, drug centres? The musical score?
4. The portrait of Ana, Queen Latifah, her age and work, her past, the clashes with her mother growing up, her hurting her mother? Her relationship with Slick? Kelly as her daughter, estranged? Kim the younger daughter? The experience of drugs, the consequences, her health and interview with the doctor, the danger to her feet, walking with a stick? Strong character, determined, focused on herself, able to argue? Good with the women, her clients and advice? The loving relationship with Slick, clashes and reconciliation? Developing her relationship with Kelly? Her mother, at home, the meals? The search for Amare and the range of contacts, his sister, finding Ness at the shelter, his meal? The leads? Finding Amare, care, his death? The reconciliation with Kelly? Her mother moving to Virginia to get a new life? Her continuing her work?
5. Kelly, the younger generation, resenting the mother, living apart, her studies, her friendship with Amare, concerned about him, his medication, disappearance, his work? Her relationship with Marcus, a decent young man? Her relationship mother, grandmother, with Kim, skill at basketball, the matches, her mother coming late? Hard with her mother, her mother helping Amare, his death, her reconciliation?
6. Kim, the younger daughter, in the household, with Slick, with her mother, with Kelly and her grandmother? Hopes for this generation?
7. Amare, his life, gay, AIDS, his health, his relationships, friends, work in distributing pamphlets, his death?
8. Ana’s mother, her heart life, hurt by her daughter, care for her granddaughters? Moving to Virginia, wanting some life for herself?
9. The range of women, their lives, illnesses, the husband shooting his wife?
10. The range of people in New York City?
11. Ana as a role model?
