The main cinema of the year - the presentation of the Oscars - this year will attract increased public attention thanks to the film Milk. The release of the film about the first American Gee-bureaucrat, who did not hide his sexual orientation and killed for this in 1978, coincided with the ban on same-sex marriages in the state of California. Milk called a flurry of emotions, received many bonuses, and now is one of the main contenders for Oscar. How much the film Gas Van Sent follows the historical truth and why he caused such a wide resonance - the New Times sorted out
Producers are always trying to choose the most successful time for the release of a new film hut. They strive for the militants to appear in the summer - at this time of the year it is easier to attract young people. They plan to show more serious dramas on Christmas to draw the attention of especially picky spectators. But it is clear that it is difficult to guess: the shooting of a standard Hollywood film is required for years. Those who create these projects cannot look so far ahead and choose the right moment for the appearance of the film on the screens so that the film becomes not only an artistic, but also a public event.
Against the prejudices
It is the hit of the top ten that allocates from hundreds of films the film Gas Van Sent 1 about the Harvey Milke dispatcher with the show of Penen in the title role. Milk received a huge resonance in the press, politicians and ordinary citizens spoke of it. This is a film about the real man Harvey Milke, who was gay, did not hide this, was accepted for the service of the San Francisco City Hall, which was a sensation for America of 1978. He was killed in the city hall building in 1978.
Milk was released in November last year, just a few weeks after the inhabitants of California voted against the legalization of homosexual marriages. It turned out that the film that fights for overcoming the prejudices and hatred of society to gays and lesbians appeared very timely. Political activists throughout the country saw parallels between the fate of Milka and their struggle for the abolition of “Amendments No. 8” of California 2 .
Of course, none of those who worked on the film could foresee such a development of events. Van Saint, for example, in many interviews stated that the struggle for the resolution of same -sex marriages in California, and throughout the country, was just a “small surge in radar” when he began to make a film. And even at the end of July last year, when Milk was already mounted, few could compare the film with events in California. And only when critics began to give response to the film, the producers of Focus Features understood how unexpectedly the film was shown by the time of showing.
Between truth and fiction
Of course, Milk won public attention from this wave that any film was needed at the very beginning of the award season. The film has already been awarded the title "Best Film "from critics in New York and San Francisco. Penn received the title "Best Actor" from 13 critics associations. Josh Brolin, who is played by Dan White, Milk Milka, also received his share of awards, like Van Saint and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black. And all this is only the eve of the Oscars, the most important award. The nominees will be declared closer to the end of the month, and Milk will most likely receive a huge number of nominations.
The film crew made a lot of efforts to recreate the spirit that was inherent in San Francisco in the 1970s, when this story happened. They accurately showed the biography of Milka: he was born in 1930 on Longayland in New York, the first part of his life did not advertise his homosexual inclinations and worked as a banking employee at Wall Street. He ceased to hide his addictions after moving in 1972 to the unquenchable gay of the western coast of the United States-San Francisco. He quickly became an informal leader in his Castro area - this is one of the few places where gays and lesbians could live without hiding their orientation. After two unsuccessful attempts, Milk was elected to the city Supervisory Board in 1977. This was the first homosexual in the United States to take a post in the city administration.
During his short stay in the Council, Milk helped to conduct the first Bill about gay rights prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. He also prevented the law that forbade gays to teach in secondary schools of California. Less than a month later, Milk and the mayor of San Francisco, George R. Moskon, were shot at the office of the city hall Dan White, who was furious that he had lost his post on the council.
However, Milk, which seemed to be directly related to today's political events, is actually not a mirror of real historical events. Harvey Milk became a “homosexual martyr” only after he was shot: he was killed because of political strife, and not because he protected gays, as claimed in this film. In fact, his killer Dan White left his post at the City Hall on November 10, 1978-he said that he could not contain his family for such a small salary. But then he decided to return to his former place. The mayor Musko refused him. The mayor was a very progressive politician, he attracted women and representatives of various minorities - black, gays, Latin American, Asians. White was a conservative and did not support the liberal views of Musko. Therefore, having replaced White as a like -minded person, he was able to finally hold the legislative program, which he had long been going to start.
When White tried to return, he saw that it was Milk who was standing in his way. And on November 27, 1978, he took a gun, climbed through the window to the city hall and demanded a meeting with the mayor. As soon as Musko went into the room, White took out a gun and shot him four times. Then Milka shot down. A few hours later, White surrendered to the authorities, and the city plunged into political chaos. The trial of the killer, which took place a year later, became Fars. White received a little more than 7 years in prison, because he convinced the court that he acted in a state of affect. He left prison and committed suicide in 1985.
Much in the film “Milk” was transmitted correctly, but very little attention was paid to the figure of the mayor of Musko, and it was he who was in the center of events that morning of 1978. It is precisely because of the mayor, not Milka. Moskovo most seriously influenced the life of San Francisco, and Conservative White could not bear it. In this regard, the film sins against historical truth. All that we see is the radiant image of Harvey Milka, and only sometimes does a person who controlled the city appear.
However, who cares the story, especially if the film receives Oscars on February 22. In Hollywood, they know that Milk is a topical and very timely film. And who argues? The ball is ruled by politics.
The film was released on October 28, 2008, the premiere took place in the Castro Headerevna, where the hero lived. The premiere was timed to the 30th anniversary of the death of Harvey Milka. For two and a half months of rental, the film practically paid off. At the moment, critics suggest that Sean Penn will receive an Oscar for the best male role, suggestions are also expressed that Milk will become the best film of the year.
Until recently, Josh Getlin was the chief of the Bureau of the Los Angeles Times in New York. Specialized as literary and film critic. In 1978, when the film “Milk” took place, he worked in the press service of the San Francisco City Hall.
_______________
1 American film director, screenwriter, is considered one of the classics of independent American cinema, made films such as Paranoid Park, Paris, I Love You, Smart Will Hunting.
2 “Amendment No. 8” - the ban on same -sex marriages - was approved in a referendum, which was held on November 4, 2008.
