Positive (1990 film)

Positive
Directed by	Rosa von Praunheim
Screenplay by	Rosa von Praunheim
Produced by	Rosa von Praunheim Phil Zwickler
Starring	Larry Kramer Michael Callen Diamanda Galás
Cinematography	Mike Kuchar Elfi Mikesch Evan Estern
Edited by	Rosa von Praunheim Mike Shephard
Production company	Rosa Von Praunheim Filmproduktion
Distributed by	First Run Features.
Release date	4 May 1990 (1990-05-04)
Running time	60 minutes
Countries	United States West Germany
Language	English

Positive is a 1990 documentary film directed, written and produced by Rosa von Praunheim (in cooperation with Phil Zwickler). The film received international resonance.[1]

Plot

Positive is about how the gay community in New York City and its activists deal with the AIDS crisis. The film's protagonists include Larry Kramer and Diamanda Galás.[2]

Production notes

Positive is the first part of Rosa von Praunheim's AIDS-Trilogy.

Awards

• 1990: Queer Film Prize of the Berlin International Film Festival (together with Silence = Death)[3]

Reception

The Guardian wrote in 1992: "Silence = Death and Positive: The best AIDS films to date [...]."[4] The Los Angeles Times summed it up: "In short, Praunheim is just the man for the job he has taken on with Silence = Death and Positive: he has the breadth of vision, the compassion and the militance and, yes, the sense of humor necessary to tackle the AIDS epidemic in all its aspects."[5]

Notes

1. Murray, Images in the Dark, p. 109
2. Kuzniar, The Queer German Cinema, p. 90
3. "Berlin International Film Festival (1990)". IMDb.
4. "Catalog: Sixteenth International San Francisco Lesbian & Gay Film Festival". Frameline Film Festival, 1992. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
5. "MOVIE REVIEW : Praunheim Trilogy Takes On the AIDS Crisis". Los Angeles Times. 25 July 1990. Retrieved 2022-04-29.

References

• Kuzniar, Alice A, The Queer German Cinema, Stanford University Press, 2000, ISBN 0-8047-3995-1
• Murray, Raymond. Images in the Dark: An Encyclopedia of Gay and Lesbian Film and Video Guide to the Cinema of Spain. TLA Publications, 1994, ISBN 1-880707-01-2

External links

• Positive at IMDb