Dangerous Living: Coming Out In The Developing World
(Documentary)
Picture: C+
Sound: B- Extras: C+ Main Program: B
In their important, continuing series of DVD titles in
association with Human Rights Watch, First Run has issued Dangerous Living:
Coming Out In The Developing World.
This hour-long program goes to developing countries and non-Western
cultures to show how hard, difficult, ugly and even deadly people minding their
own business just trying to live their lives as gay and lesbian people can be
in countries with backwards policies and extremist hijackings of the political
and religious. The “Cairo 52”
anti-homosexual witch hunts remains one of the most embarrassing moments in the
history of Egypt since they tried to wipe Israel off the face of the earth
years ago, but is included among many other incident of equal patheticness and
unnecessary horror.
As horrifying as it is, it takes a biological, genocidal
crisis like AIDS to push gay and lesbian people to the point of no return where
they have no choice but to take proactive stances as they feel they have
nothing to loose. This program shows
how in Islamic countries, people had been executed for being gay, though many
could say you could get killed for no good reason in many cases. However, the terroristic press that goes
with it is a problem. Add Brazil,
India, the Philippines and El Salvador and related areas, and adding this all
up, one realizes the problems over there go beyond terrorist groups. It is about countries that have fallen far
behind the idea of civil rights and democracy, not helped by their rollback in
The United States. The way gays and
lesbians are treated here is outrageous, and though not necessarily intended,
paints a darker picture of the world at large.
Human Rights Watch should be strongly commended for endorsing this
incredible work.
The 1.33 x 1 full frame image is a compilation of video
nicely edited together into a compelling piece. These are vital, important images that in many cases have been
horrifically censored by supposedly free media. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo actually has enough Pro Logic
surround information to put it above many similar documentary programs. Don Dinicola’s score is a primary feature of
this, which is effective throughout.
The fine extras here include the raw footage of the “Cairo
52” anti-homosexual witch hunts at 7:24, a 16 X 9/1.78 X 1 interview with
director John Scagliotti running 7:22 that puts this working to interesting
perspective, a piece on Scagliotti and Barney Frank, with an interview excerpt
from Howard Dean runs 7:58, and Ambassador James Hormel discusses the Human
Rights Organization at 4:29 with contact and reference information. Text film notes running only five pages are
worth a read-through, as well as text biographies on Scagliotti, Janet Baus and
Dan Hunt. Finally, there is information
on the first three Human Rights Watch/First Run Features releases, all of which
are must-sees. We have reviewed, are
reviewing and will continue to review every single release in this series,
including S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine. Dangerous Living is one of the most
powerful hours of programming we have seen in a while and strongly recommend
it, as we are certain you will agree.
- Nicholas Sheffo
