This Sunday we will show the remaining three episodes of 'Angels in America', the six-episode award-winning 2003 HBO miniseries adapted from the play of the same name by playwright Tony Kushner. The play is his political epic about the AIDS crisis during the mid-eighties, around a group of separate but connected individuals.Angels in America' was the most watched made-for-cable movie in 2003, garnering much critical acclaim. .
Cast: * Al Pacino as Roy Cohn * Meryl Streep as Hannah Pitt, Ethel Rosenberg, the Rabbi, and the Angel Australia * Patrick Wilson as Joe Pitt, the Antarctic Eskimo * Mary-Louise Parker as Harper Pitt * Emma Thompson as Nurse Emily, the Homeless Woman, and the Angel America * Justin Kirk as Prior Walter and the Leatherman in the Park * Jeffrey Wright as Mr. Lies, Belize, Homeless Man and the Angel Europa * Ben Shenkman as Louis Ironson, and the Angel Oceania * James Cromwell as Henry, Roy's Doctor Set in 1980s New York and subtitled "A Gay Fantasia on National Themes," Angels in America concerns a group of largely gay men who find themselves caught up in series of disasters that range from love to religion and from politics to philosophy--and most specifically caught between the rising tide of AIDS and a generally unsympathetic society. In the midst of this, AIDS patient Prior Walter begins to have a series of visions, which may be fever dreams, medicine-induced hallucinations... or, most unnerving of all, real. His long dead ancestors rise to speak to him, the floor cracks open to reveal a burning book--and at the conclusion of the play's first half a beautiful woman with majestic wings crashes through his roof. She is the Angel of America. He is, she tells him, a prophet, and she has come to bring him a message for mankind. Intertwined with Prior's other-earthly experiences are oddly parallel lives. Joe and Harper Pitt are a deeply dysfunctional couple doubting their faith in the Mormon Church, Joe a closeted homosexual, Harper a Valium-addicted and mildly psychotic woman given to visions as strange as those of Prior Walter's. And as further counterpoint historical figure Roy Cohn (1927-1986), among the most sinister figures of 20th Century America, finds himself taunted by the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg as he drifts toward his own AIDS-induced death. The characters swirl in and out of each other's lives and dreams, playing to stereotypes and yet defying them, arguing politics and philosophy and love and death--and it is fascinating stuff. Viewer comments: (1) (Angels in America) has captured the essence of what being gay was in the '80s with all its fears, problems and excitements. But it is more than just a gay document, it speaks of life generally in the '80s, of everyone's fears and hopes in such an affluent time. The depiction so real (even in the surreal sequences) so insightful of that period. (2) With a mad swirl of irony, intense drama, outrageous humor, and unexpected twists and turns, Angels in America is almost sure to hold your attention--particularly if you recall the Ronald Reagan years well enough to recognize the truly bitter allegory the film offers on what many consider his largely absentee second term. Truly a must have, multi-layered, bearing repeated viewings, beautifully directed, performed, and filmed. (3) I was lucky enough to see the Broadway production of Angels with the original cast, and it was without question the highlight of my 25 years of theatre-going.... Personally, I believe that Pacino gives the performance of his career, and Streep is amazing in her three roles. The other performances are quite solid as well.... This film not only won a record 11 Emmys, taking the award for Outstanding Miniseries and all four acting trophies, it also won those same awards at the Golden Globe presentations plus four SAG acting awards. In short, it won practically every award it possibly could. (4) I think this movie was very real in it's portrayal of AIDS, and it really raised awareness for me, because it showed AIDS as a real disease, not just something we hear about on the news. I was very excited to see minorities presented like average, real people.... I found Angels in America very inspiring, and after seeing it for the first time, I seemed to see the world in a whole new light. I know that sounds cheesy, but it is true. For someone very passionate about equal rights, like me, this movie seemed to relay exactly what I stand for. (IMDB.com) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Time: 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. (with a 15-minute break after the second episode). Venue: The Humsafar Trust's Drop-in Centre, 4th floor, Municipal Transit Building (Vakola Municipal Market Building), Near Raheja Point and Vakola Masjid, Santacruz (East), Mumbai. Getting there: It's approximately minimum fare by auto-rickshaw from Santacruz station (East). You could also take routes 311 or 313. The same routes also operate from Kurla (West) station. Space courtesy: The Humsafar Trust. Note: Programme subject to change without notice. Please track: The Bombay Dost Wiki OR the Bombay Dost Facebook page OR follow Bombaydost on Twitter (http://twitter.com/bombaydost) OR subscribe to our Google SMS Channel (http://labs.google.co.in/smschannels/subscribe/BombayDost)
