In
the late 1970’s, a mysterious new disease began infecting
and killing gay men. Common Threads tells the powerful
story of the first decade of the AIDS epidemic, as told
through the lives of five very diverse individuals who shared
a common fate. Using the monumental NAMES Project AIDS Memorial
Quilt as its central metaphor, the film weaves together
personal memories and television news stories to expose
the U.S. government’s failure to respond to the growing
epidemic, and the vibrant protest movement that was born
as a result. From the Olympic athlete to the inner-city
recovering drug addict, from the conservative naval commander
to the New York gay activist to the 11-year-old suburban
boy with hemophilia, the film uses intimate details to tell
an epic story of love, loss, anger and healing.
Directed
by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, co-produced by Bill
Couturie, Epstein, and Friedman, narrated by Dustin Hoffman,
and original musical score composed and performed by Bobby
McFerrin.
