All of Us
This disturbing and poignant documentary tackles the issue of why there's a high percentage of black women infected with the HIV virus. The current government program, called ABC, doesn't lower the HIV rate like it's supposed to do because it doesn't go to the root of the problem; it just deals with basic, overly simplistic advice such as properly using a condom and abstaining from having sex. In reality, the solutions are much more complicated than that. Dr. Mehret Mandefro interviews two of her HIV positive patients, Chevelle and Tara, to try to get a grasp of their sexual and social lifestyle. Both patients have been through rough childhoods that put pressure on them to have sex with men for money. Not surprisingly, they also took drugs. Basically, they lost control over their lives and became subservient to men, undermining their very own health. Director Emily Abt captures the disturbing details regarding how Chevelle and Tara physically suffer because of the HIV virus. Most importantly, the patients spend their time educating female teens about the importance of not only being knowledgeable about safe sex, but maintaining their self confidence so that they don't make any regrettable mistakes regarding such important matters. There's a very powerful and important quote from Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. posted in the back of the classroom, which reads: "Our life begins to end the day we become silent about things that matter." In many ways, All of Us should inspire all women, regardless of race, to openly discuss their feelings and problems so that they can overcome them, feel empowered and make the right decisions about sex when the time comes around. After all, in the long run, what could possibly be more important than health? Number of times I checked my watch: 0.
Released by Pureland Pictures. Opens at the Cinema Village.
