It’s a Sin


 It’s a sin
The reality of this 1980 s based Russell T Davis  tv Drama  set in the gay world during the aids crisis wasn’t part of my world and indeed of my history but boy is it a powerfully emotional glimpse into a piece of history where a whole generation of men were failed
A wonderfully evocative, moving and important piece of filmmaking 
I sort of recognised myself in the characters but boy did I recognise Nu 


30 comments:

  1. I've heard of this show, but here in the USA I believe it is broadcast on HBOMax, and I don't get it. I have read good reviews about it.

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  2. Ohhhh that's Olly Alexander? I will have to put this in my queue. History: it's fundamental.
    And I love the PSB!!

    XOXO

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  3. I haven't heard of this show, but anything by Russell T. Davis is worth watching!

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  4. Never heard of this. Must track it down. So much of what came out during the AIDS crisis here in the states was absolute dreck. Treacly, self-pitying, shoe-gazing stuff - all about provoking tears and winning performances. Blech. The real stuff was much harder, as it was never a question of if... but when. Thanks for sharing this.

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  5. Replies
    1. Society, the medical profession, politicians...the list goes on and on

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    2. No-one took much notice until it became clear that AIDS affected the heterosexual community, too. Then there was an effort made to develop anti-retroviral drugs...

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  6. Barbara Anne3:25 am

    This title is new to me, too, but if it's not streaming, I cannot see it.

    Hugs!

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  8. I haven't seen that. I need to check my various movie services for it.

    Love,
    Janie

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  9. I worked for a few years as a care assistant in London just before it all started. I had a lot of gay colleagues. I've often wondered over the years what became of them.

    Since my son came out -how can I put it?- I feel it more intensely in retrospect.

    Reflecting on it during this epidemic it struck me how, however sympathetic one is to the suffering of others, nothing comes close to actually experiencing things for oneself.

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  10. Oh, that whole AIDS crises started not too long after I graduated high school. It scared me "straight" until I was about 30. The crises hadn't lessened any by then, but you can only suppress things for so long. I'd be interested in seeing this show.

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  11. Yorkshire Liz8:21 am

    What is remarkable is the fine detail that prompts memories. THE has said this was his growing up and coming out era, and the personal relativity really shows. And who can forget that terrifying 'beware of AIDS' government warning TV advertisement? Very timely and trailblazing television.

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  12. I can recall working as a nurse in the 80s. People were nursed in isolation and we had to double bag people's clothes for disposal when they died. It wasn't a case of 'if' it was 'when'. It was frightening. A few years back when I worked as nurse/ Health Adviser in a sexual health clinic, it was part of my role to inform people that they were HIV+ve - but that "as long as they adhered to medication regimes" they could expect to live a normal lifespan. How times change - and thank goodness for modern medicine.

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  13. We watched every episode yesterday a thought provoking series's of what life in the 80s must of been like for alot of gay men.The attitudes towards them by those who should of cared. The professional attitudes have but I expect even now some families still treat their sons &.daughters badly for being gay. None of us can help who we fall in love with.

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  14. Brilliantly beautifully played by every actor. Heart warming and heart breaking. It will stay with me for a long time.

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  15. His Jeremy Thorpe one was good.

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  16. Saw an interview with RTD. He said that he thought back to 1981 and tried to recall any of his friends that were out to their parents. He couldn’t think of one! It is gratifying that some much has changed since then. Disheartening to think how little has changed in many countries and some cultures

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  17. i am going to watch this!

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  18. Anonymous3:00 pm

    Was transfixed from start to finish of first episode. Extremely poignant at end, as the death was so lonely and loveless. Soundtrack was great too. Expected it to be good as written by RTD-thought his Queer as Folk was brilliant and ground breaking for the time. Pollie.

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  19. John, I immediately thought of "The Philadelphia Story" with Tom Hanks in the leading role. I had a few friends who were gay in high school and my early 20's. When I saw this movie my heart broke. When I was leaving the theatre tears were uncontrollably pouring down my already wet face so I put my sunglasses on. I felt like a fool but couldn't help myself. It was a horrible era - frightening and sad. I'll to a search here in the US to see if I can get the Russell TV Davis piece here. Stay well. Take care. Hugs from across The Pond at the base of the mini-mountain in Maine.

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  20. I'm going to watch it-I think it will be on here Friday.I was a teenager during the 70s and my only worry then was that I must not get pregnant or my dad would go mad "my mum warned x

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  21. Although untouched physically by the "AIDS" epidemic I was very much emotionally and spiritually touched by a disease that was named as a gay plague at the point of my own awakening to my sexuality. The terror that I was a homosexual who merely for that fact felt disregarded was compounded by the surefire cries that I would die from a new disease just because of who I was attracted to. Tombstone public advice advertisements to go along with the shame poured upon an already tortured teenage soul almost killed me. Thankfully I made it through to a more aware time for us all, but I shall never let go of the feeling of being let down by my fellow citizens and the government of my formative years. There is no bliss in ignorance.

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    1. Nicely written and remembered mave
      Fairly recently I wrote about the shame aids portrayal bythe media and government had on me and stopped me coming out earlier

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  22. I listened to old videos of the press secretary for President Ronald Reagan and many of the men attending the press conference were laughing about AIDS. It is a sin, John.

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  23. @Ellen D, Reagan wanted to put gay men in camps until he found out how many Americans were gay and he was scared of the world finding out.

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  24. John, I've signed a petition to have a law removed in Sth Australia. Still on the books in the 21c, a man charged with murder can use the excuse that he thought the victim was a homo and had made a pass at him. S.A. had a bad reputation for treatment of gays.

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  25. This drama broke my heart and made me laugh at the same time. It was very moving and I was heartbroken that people were treated in such a ignorant way. HIV has now influenced generations of people in the way they feel they need to behave and that's such a shame but I am so glad that anyone diagnosed with HIV now is highly likely to live a full life if they can obtain the medication.

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