The ghost of "patient zero", who allegedly first brought AIDS to North America - materialises and tries to contact old friends. Meanwhile, the Victorian explorer Sir Richard Burton, who drank from the Fountain of Youth and now works as Chief Taxidermist at the Toronto Natural history Museum, is trying to organise an exhibition about the disease for the museum's "Hall of Contagion".
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The ghost of Zero - "patient zero", who allegedly first brought AIDS to Canada - materializes and tries to contact old friends. Meanwhile, the Victorian explorer Sir Richard Burton, who drank from the Fountain of Youth and now works as Chief Taxidermist at the Toronto Natural History Museum, is trying to organize an AIDS exhibition.The mainstream Austin Chronicle cited a "murky plot, frequently weak acting and often mediocre music" while still praising the film's "spunk, humor, enthusiasm and wit." This is pretty much it. The film itself is not very good, though you can see it was striving for something bigger and better. Then again, by having your lead be a time-displaced scientist, how seriously can we take it? The Washington Post compared Zero Patience unfavorably to Hollywood's big-budget, big-star AIDS-themed film, Philadelphia, claiming that the latter's protagonist, Andrew Beckett, "looked sick, dealt with his illness and allowed the audience to sympathize," unlike the "healthy hoofers" of the musical who, because they didn't look sick enough, seem "to deny some of the grim realities" of the disease. Now, I don't know that the two films can be compared, but I do agree that the film seemed to promote sexuality without accepting any of the negative aspects... dispelling the "patient zero" myth is a good thing, but it doesn't mean we can go back to our bad habits!
I so wish I had a glass or two of whatever they were drinking when they thought up the idea of Zero Patience, I mean, hey now, a happy gay musical about how HIV started, with talking arseholes, ghost conversations, no illness, lie about who does and doesn't support AIDS research, alienate most people add dance numbers, songs, oh and don't forget bringing back to life a Victorian adventure pretending he's 170 years old and if people don't like it, pretend it's a satirical parody!It was made in the late 80's and had it come out then, it would have really set straight some of the common misconceptions about AIDS, however it didn't reach a mass audience until the mid 1990's, which by that time society understood HIV / AIDS a lot better. It was too late to do any good and just confused a whole load more! Read more and find out where this film made it in the Top 50 Most Influential Gay Movies of All Time book, search on Amazon for Top 50 Most Influential Gay Movies of All Time
The most extraordinary thing about this film to me is that during a Gay Pride day in Toronto, I met some people that I knew and mentioned to them that I had seen them in Zero Patience. I then began to sing the praises of this film, and a moment later, they introduced me to the friend who was with them. His name was John Greyson, and he was the director of the film I had just raved on about! Well, he certainly knew I wasn't just being polite! :0) I gave this film an 8 out of ten, first of all because of the fact that anyone who can make a musical comedy about AIDS right in the middle of the epidemic and pull it off has got balls. Secondly, he did it with an outrageous satire that spares no-one, from the devious doctors to the exploitative politicians, and even takes on Act Up members with aplomb. Some people have said bad things about the musical numbers; I found them to be full of surprise, inventiveness, humour and camp - not to mention a touch of whimsy and pathos. This film has so much packed into it that it almost defies definition. But all in all it works. Finally, although the tone is continually exaggerated, the actor playing Patient Zero managed to flesh out his character to the point where we could relate to a "real" person. And boy, is he sexy! So, I ask you, what is there not to like?
I was introduced to this film (yes, FILM) by a professor of film at Texas A&M University. I know, most would think that those two clash: a queer film at one of the most conservative "schools" in the country, but she's a lesbian.The music still entertains me, and "Just Like Scheherazade" is such a touching song.As a gay man with AIDS, this film is radical, emphatically hilarious and exudes the attitude that those with this disease need to embrace. Don't sit around waiting to die...laugh at yourself. And make a musical!Anywho. Word is that "Zero Patience" will FINALLY be released in the U.S. on May 31, 2005! It will have two music tracks and a bonus music video.VideoETA informed me that it would be May 17, but both TLA Video and Amazon claim the 31st. Either way, it's coming, and about time, too!
