Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt (1989) User Reviews

Brave Film Which Shed Light On Unfolding Tragedy

[chrisalders-1 · 9/10 · 8 December 2005]

This documentary accomplishes what most films sent out to do; move and transform audience members. What we have here is a remarkable movie which managed to change the way people viewed the AIDS crisis.

The success of the film's impact lies in its structural simplicity; we hear from the survivors of AIDS victims in ways which humanize their suffering.

Much has been written about the haunting musical score.

I had one slight problem with the film; its Amnerican-centric message. I wish the filmmakers would have paid more attention to the subject matter by giving us more of a world-view. This would have increased the film's credibility.

However, this is a quibble. What we have here is a motion picture which gives lasting testament to the personal courage exhibited by both victims and survivors.

How To Make An American Quilt

[boblipton · 8/10 · 1 April 2023]

Every life has a story. Here are a few of the stories of people who died from AIDS, told by their survivors.

More than three quarter of a million Americans have died from AIDS since we began to notice it, about forty years ago. Worldwide, the figure seems to be a bit more than 40 million. Do a little math, and we as a nation look lucky. Human lives are not measured statistically, and people do not die by nations, but individually. Try to speak of the enormity of something, saying eighty million people have died from AIDS, or 6.9 million from COVID-19 or what have you and the horror and sadness gets lost in the the crowd. But one by one, with those they leave behind to assess the values of those lives. "My son died"; "My lover died"; "My friend Jim died": these are the words that make me weep. That's why this movie is so effective.

common threads

[mossgrymk · 8/10 · 14 April 2023]

Somber, affecting documentary that elicits sadness and anger in equal measure. The former, of course, is for the subjects of this film, all taken in their thirties or younger in a most painful and hideous fashion, as well as the story tellers who are left to get on with their lives and fight the emptiness as best they can. Fury is reserved for the federal government, under one of our worst presidents, perversely made better by the complete odiousness of Trump, who did the bare minimum for eight years and did not come up with an even halfway effective drug until fear of the scourge spreading to the heterosexual population spurred it to semi action.

I have two criticisms. One is that this film is not long enough. A subject as big as the AIDS crisis needs more extensive treatment than an hour and twenty minutes, especially the shamefully inadequate government response. My other knock is that the ghostly, choral music score at times verges on misery porn. Give it a B.

With caution...

[matt-81 · 10/10 · 15 April 1999]

Don't take this film lightly. It has to be one of the most heart-breaking films ever made. I saw this only once - 9 years ago! - and to this day, I still have Bobby McFerrin's depressing little theme in my head. Don't plan on doing much after this has ended. It's like SHOAH packed into less than 90 minutes. I never thought the presence of something so stupid as Alf (from the sitcom) could bring tears to my eyes. See this and find out why.

I'm shocked and saddened that I'm only the 9th person to vote for this film.

1989 Academy Award Winner

[charlesgets-imdb · 10/10 · 17 May 2006]

I was on staff at the Names Project during the making of this film and am honored to have been so. This film won the 1989 Academy Award for Feature Documentary. As has been stated by others, this is not an easy film to see, but I would encourage anyone who wants a greater understanding of the devastating impact of AIDS to view it. To have worked in the Names Project workshop and seen firsthand the care and love poured into each panel of the quilt was both a privilege and, ultimately, a devastating experience. Some of the people I worked with there are now gone - died of AIDS themselves - and I still think of them and miss them. See this film.

As for the comment about a world view, the film does mention some worldwide statistics. However, one of the main points of the film is that the United States government was abysmally slow in its response to the AIDS epidemic - so there is a reason for the focus on the U.S.

Belongs in your heart

[thomasdosborneii · 17 May 2009]

I've got to say that I hadn't thought of this incredible film in a while, but it came up recently (the current year is 2009) and I decided to check out the reviews here. The reviews, all by themselves, and the memory of the film, and the music, and of what the film meant and of the stories of the people in it, made me cry all over again--THAT'S how powerful it is, memories of it in my heart 20 years later.

In my view, this movie should be required viewing for all those people out there who still hate. And for all those precious people out there who genuinely love, this movie will find a welcome home in your heart, whether this be a first viewing, or a refreshed memory from decades ago.

Still Holds Up...

[jandrews-65646 · 10/10 · 19 January 2017]

I am a health teacher who has used this film many years ago..but had thought it might have been too old to use now. But after giving it a lot of thought, NOW is the time to show the film more than ever as kids today (and many young adults) do not know the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and how those caught up in the early stigma filled days, coped with the disease. Of course stigma still exists around the subject, but this movie brings a compelling human face to the tragedy and neglect that was brought about through ignorance and prejudice.

The haunting images of the past, coupled with the story telling, create a 'must view' for today. As others have said, it packs a powerful punch, so be aware of the difficult outcomes of those involved. This film is definitely 'one for the ages'...

Inspirational and packs an emotional wallop!

[TrevorJD · 10/10 · 5 December 2008]

On the 20th Anniversary of World AIDS Day I sat down and watched this profoundly moving documentary that packs as much of an emotional wallop now as it did when I first saw it back in the very early 90's – I cried my eyes out. It was a time when many of my friends and acquaintances were suffering and dying from AIDS and many others were living with HIV. A time before combination therapy and drugs - for those who are able to access and afford them - helped prolong the lives of people living with HIV. The 'storytellers' are everyday people whose lovers, friends or family died of AIDS and who found an outlet to remember them and deal with their grief through the Quilt project. Their stories are inspirational, and the film beautifully constructed. Highly Recommended.

Who ever would've guessed that another celebrity would get elected and ignore a pandemic?

[lee_eisenberg · 10/10 · 21 December 2021]

I first learned of Rob Epstein's "Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt" about a quarter of a century ago when reading a list of Academy Award-winners. I've finally gotten around to seeing it. What an impressive story. It's so sad that millions of people worldwide succumbed to AIDS while governments ignored it (in fact, interviewee Vito Russo died the year after the documentary's release). Part of what we can do is keep alive the memory of those who sought to raise the public's awareness. This documentary is part of that. Definitely see it.

To think that decades later, another authoritarian-minded celebrity-turned-demagogue used racism to get elected president and then ignored a pandemic.

Moving

[Jonah14 · 10/10 · 26 June 2001]

Winning the 1990 Oscar for Best Documentary, this originally aired on HBO. Watching After Stonewall reminded me of this documentary, and even just seeing the Quilt on THAT program made me tear up - simply from the memory of this documentary.

As a documentary, it's not very impressive - it's pretty rote and basic. However, in 1990, AIDS was still a strong fear - remember, the next year Bruce Davison was nominated for Longtime Companion - but the Bobby McFerrin music and the visuals affected me, in the same way that the Vietnam War Memorial scene from In Country.

This is a must-see documentary.

A beautiful tribute to the lives lost to AIDS

[SakuraSunshine · 10/10 · 15 March 2023]

I wasn't born until the 90's and personally don't know anyone who died from AIDS, but Common Threads left an empty gap in my heart as if these lives lost were my own friends and family. This film was a beautiful tribute to the men, women and children lost to a horrible disease.

Bobby McFerrin wrote a song for this movie called "Common Threads" which plays on and off throughout the film. The song fits the somber mood of the film and sticks with you along with the names and faces that were among the many lost in the battle against AIDS.

The stories will touch you and will be burned into your memory. The film is also incredibly depressing. The beginning of the 80's when the AIDS epidemic began seems almost spooky. Here is this disease that causes such horrific suffering and death and doctors knew little about it or the cause.

AZT wasn't approved by the FDA until 1987. It's so sad to think that these people knew their days were numbered and that the gruesome fate of AIDS and horrible death was imminent. There was a huge stigma and many didn't get the patient centered care they deserved.

Contaminated factor 8 was another tragedy that ended up being a death sentence for people who thought they were getting just a simple blood transfusion or routine treatment for hemophilia. David Mandell Jr., a young boy with hemophilia, was one of the lives lost due to this grave mistake. It shattered my heart into a million pieces as his parents discussed making his last Christmas extra special for him and hearing him talk to ALF, a character from his favorite show. Here is this sweet innocent child frozen in time. He never had the chance to grow up all because a product he needed was contaminated with HIV.

Throughout the film you get to see volunteers, bereaved families and friends work on this incredible quilt. I loved seeing all of the contributions and later looked up the virtual quilt that lets you scan the full quilt and see everyone's names. I highly recommend paying a tribute and checking it out after you watch this film.

A deeply moving TV experience.

[TIGGER-39 · 4 May 2000]

I was actually looking for something else today when I came across this. I remember seeing this several years ago & still recall it clearly. I've never been a big bobby McFerrin fan, but the theme music that he came up with is deeply human and touching. It accents the somber tone of the presentation extremely well. I remember sitting there struck silent by the magnitude of human suffering expressed in the form of those quilts. If more filmmakers had the kind of heart those two have, the world would be a better place for all of us. Gay and Straight alike.