The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is well underway, and the city is crammed with celebrities like Glenn Close, Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Jared Leto, and Matthew McConaughey.
McConaughey stars in the Dallas Buyers Club, based on a true-life tale of Ron Woodroof who was diagnosed with AIDS in 1986 and given just 30 days to live. The film had its gala premier at TIFF the other day with Leto and McConaughey in attendance.
It was a harrowing movie to watch. It’s frank depiction of sex, drug use and the AIDS crisis left me feeling sick to my stomach. In fact, 30 minutes in, I thought I was going to have to leave the packed theatre.
Ron Woodroof was a womanizing, drug addicted homophobe whose excesses led to a 1986 HIV/AIDS diagnosis. Hew was only 36 at the time.
His AZT treatment almost killed him, and to survive, he began to smuggle non-toxic, anti-viral medications from all over the world.
AIDS patients sought out his medications, and Ron unintentionally created the Dallas Buyers Club, the first of dozens that popped up around the country, providing its paying members with these alternative treatments, that were as simple as vitamins.
Due to their popularity, the clubs were brought to the attention of the FDA and pharmaceutical companies, which sought to shut them down.
Woodroof died on September 12, 1992, six years after he was diagnosed with HIV.
Whenever I watch a movie/documentary about the early years of AIDS I get enraged at how little the government did to help those infected with the disease. Commerce was more important than saving lives, and it’s astonishing to me that organizations like the FDA haven’t been tried for their psychopathic behaviour. They literally stood by and watched people suffer, and die. It still happens in Africa.
Leto, McConaughey and Jennifer Garner provide Oscar-worthy performances in this picture, and even though I almost walked out I’m glad I stayed, because it’s one of the years best movies.
Anyway, not a great review, but I thought I’d share my thoughts with you.
Filed under: Gay, Health, Life, Movies, Toronto Tagged: AIDS, film, health, HIV, Life, movies, TIFF, TIFF13, toronto
