Angels in America

One of the pharma guys introduced me to this show a couple of weeks ago. It's a HBO mini series. I doubt it has ever been aired in Malaysia due to its controversial content. Actually I have come across this show many times while browsing at my favourite DVD store but I have always avoided it for 2 reasons.

1. I thought it was another show on the 'end of the world' theme and I am sick of such shows. Too morbid.

2. I didn't think angels have feathered wings! heh heh!

Well I eventually bought it some time ago after 'raving' reviews from this pharma guy and finally had the time to watch it 2 days ago. It came in 2 DVDs, each containing 3 chapters. After watching the first chapter I was hooked!

To cut to the chase, it tells the story of the early days of AIDS in America. There is this gay couple, one a jew, the other I don't know but caucasian and he is dying of AIDS. There is also this Mormon couple; the wife is hooked on Valium and is forever on a 'trip' while the hubby is a closeted gay who has deep struggles due to his religious convictions. There is also a lawyer, played by Al Pacino, who has an ego the size of the ozone hole above the Antartica; who also is dying of AIDS but refused to acknowledge it. Meryl Streep takes the cake playing first a Jewish Rabbi (I couldn't believe my eyes!!!), the mother of this gay Mormon guy and also a 'ghost' of a slain politician. There's also this colored man who played the role of Belize, the gay caucasian guy's 'sister' and also the role of 'Mr Lies', the object of Valium hooked wife's delusions. Am I making sense here? Maybe I am having a little 'trip' myself...didn't sleep much last night.

The story revolves around how their lives were intertwined in the light of this new disease that has surfaced in the gay community at the time. Very very engaging indeed. The actors played their roles very well and the script was excellent. The humour (yes, even in the midst of tragedy) got me chuckling at times and even howling in laughter! People around me probably thought I have finally lost it.

How do Angels fit into the whole story? Actually, I don't know! The 2nd disc wouldn't play on my notebook! AAAAargh! But right up to end of chapter 3, when an angel finally appeared (yes, a very white feathered winged female angel) to the AIDS strickened caucasian guy (what's his name already ah?? I forgot!), it seems that he was chosen as a prophet of some sort. I am not sure of his role.

I am going to try and play that 2nd disc on my good old DVD player at home (so good it can play a broken DVD...heh heh, just kidding) and see if I can see the remainder 3 chapters. Otherwise I am going to go back to that shop and convince the guy that I really did buy the DVD from him a while ago and ask him to replace it.

I love shows like this. Lots of drama, stories dealing with real life and real issues, intermittently interjected with fine humour. I never really like Al Pacino but he was good in this show. You will love and hate his character at the same time. Meryl Streep is one of my favourite actress and boy, did she act well! I still can't believe that the Jewish Rabbi was actually her!!!! Shows with themes like this are real and one can identify with it. Perhaps thats why I have a penchant for indie shows. They don't go the Hollywood way. Another one that touched me was 'The Motorcycle Diaries' which I saw a while ago. It was inspiring.

Watching a story on the early days of AIDS reminded me of a book titled 'Beyond Love' by one of my favourite anthor, Dominique Lapierre. It chronicled the early years of the discovery of the HIV and AIDS. I read that book many years ago and I dare say it played a significant role in my decision to be an ID physician eventually. It was one of those books that totally inspired me. Actually all of Mr. Lapierre's works inspired me. His life inspired me as well. He is devoting his life and everything he has to the betterment of the children living in slum areas in India.

Anyone out there has good running copy of the 2nd disc I can borrow??? :-) Btw, the pharma guy's copy is also stuck at 2nd disc! Some kind of conspiracy?