How to Survive a Plague
Rated: Not Rated
Genre: Documentary
Street Date: February 26, 2013
Available On: DVD

The Film: In the early days of the AIDS epidemic there was fear, paranoia and death. “How to Survive a Plague” examines the role that groups like ACT UP and TAG played in fighting the misinformation and the push towards finding treatments that could slow the virus.

The Extras: Deleted Scenes, Trailer, Audio commentary with director David France and ACT UP activists

Recommendation: “How to Survive a Plague” is the other side of the coin presented in the excellent documentary “We Were Here.” “We Were Here” was a story of coming together; “How to Survive a Plague” is about the struggle and chaos as a underground community is pushed into the spotlight as it literally fights to stay alive. There was no road map or clear path to take and this led to numerous options and equally as many disagreements. When I first saw “How to Survive a Plague” at 2012’s Sundance Film Festival I was frustrated by what I perceived as negativity in the film. Subsequent viewings have allowed me to understand that it wasn’t negativity; it was desperate fear. It’s hard to remain completely rational when the light at the end of the tunnel is known to be an incoming train. Highly Recommended. 

-Ryan Michael Painter