In the southern United States, the reach of the AIDS epidemic is real, and it is growing. In a region of society where many continue to consider it a sin to be homosexual and AIDS a curse from God, those who are HIV infected are ostracized, quarantined, denied services, and left to their own devices – while often already existing in grave poverty. And it should come as no surprise that the African-American population has the highest numbers for both men and women infected by HIV. Among those who want this to end are the filmmakers behind the new documentary feature film deepsouth. Traveling 13,000 miles over two and a half years of documenting excursions from Florida to Arkansas – Lisa Biagiotti, Duy Linh Tu and Joe Lindquist set out to explore “an environment that produces high rates of HIV infection…” In the process, and by interviewing 400 individuals, they gave voice to those falling between the cracks.
A quote included in the trailer comes from Kathie, an advocate and the CEO of AIDS Alabama – an AIDS service organization based in Birmingham, and also one of several activists featured who is fighting for change:
“The most people living with HIV and AIDS, the most poverty, the most sexually transmitted infections, the most people without health insurance, the most vulnerable populations, the fastest growing epidemic, the least access to health care, the highest mortality rates and the least resources to deal with this crisis.”
When asked why she made this film, director Lisa Biagiotti states:
– no one else was
– it’s a social injustice
– the negative statistics are appalling
– the rural reality doesn’t match the urban disease
– the social complexion of the disease has changed
AND: “I’ve never seen a difference between someone with HIV and myself.”
Precisely the reasons we all need to be addressing, or readdressing, the AIDS crisis. It is far from over ~ even here in the United States. See this film and carry on the fight.
deepsouth premiers on July 24th & 25th in Washington, DC
Landmark E Street Cinema