Common Threads, Stories from the Quilt

Common Threads is a penetrating documentary with five individuals at its centre who are at the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Five hand-made spreads in the enormous patch-work construction do not represent statistical figures but stand for the personal histories of people that have died of AIDS. Thousands of cloths are a creative symbol of the general reaction to AIDS, and very valuable to the next of kin of the victims as a shared expression of memories, grief, anger, and hope. We listen to the stories of two women who lost their husbands, of a family that saw their son die, and of two men whose partners were AIDS-victims. The closing scene, with the relatives making a circle round the quilt, is an impressive sight

The film gives a historic survey of the way in which the disease was brought to public notice from 1981 till 1988, how, in the beginning, it was labelled as a marginal phenomenon in the homosexual community, but gradually was reported on by the media as a catastrophe that could no longer be ignored. The film accuses the American press and government of negligence in taking precautions to stop the disease.

A shocking element of the documentary is the statement that every minute a new case of AIDS is being recorded. Common Threads does not offer reassuring words, but makes the spectator realize how alarming the situation is.

Common Threads is an important document, an accusation, and an emotional report. The voice-over is by Dustin Hoffman, the beautiful accompanying melodies have been composed by Bobby McFerrin. Robert Epstein, maker of the times of harvey milk, once again was awarded an Academy Award for the best documentary in 1989.