Milk

Went out with Yining today to watch Milk.

In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay... In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it means to be a fighter for human rights and became, before his untimely death in 1978. Synopsis extracted from RT.

This biopic of Harvey Milk spans 8 years, from his first meeting with his lover, Scott, to his unfortunate assassination. Kudos to Gus Van Sant, Sean Penn, and the wonderful supporting cast for making this excellent film on hope and equality for all human beings. Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk and he does an incredible job in portraying the role as a determined, focused, and gentle politician who genuinely cares for his community and the society. Throughout his short political lifespan, he has encountered numerous death threats and many condemnations. However, his spirit never once wavered and we applaud his sheer courage and idealism. His vision was to grant human rights to people for all races, all minorities, and to people of all sexual orientation.

His battle was an uphill task as conservatives and fundamental Christians were hellbent on thwarting his vision and hope. John Briggs, a conservative state legislator from Orange County established Proposition 6 that would have banned gays and lesbians, and possibly anyone who supported gay rights, from working in California's public schools. Milk fought the proposition and he stood firm on his ground against the blatant discrimination.

This movie is inspirational, superbly acted, and a very dignified biopic of Harvey Milk. This movie brims with passionate ideals and it succeeds in telling audiences of how great Harvey Milk is as a person and that we should never ever discriminate against anyone just because they are different.

****