Pride Divide (Documentary)
Picture: C+
Sound: C Extras: D Film: B-
It is amazing what you can learn form a documentary,
especially if it is good. Though gays
and lesbians have a common reason to team up for gay civil rights, their
communities are very different than an outsider would think. Paris Poirier’s Pride Divide (1997)
tells of how lesbian women retreat into trying to deal with inner feelings,
while gay men who come out want to become hyperactive for the most part. It is not so much a stereotype, but that
these are the directions the communities developed from the 1940s until the
arrival of AIDS.
Much of the polarization remains and is part of a growing
of each separate camp as they face some of the biggest challenges yet. The first half of the too-short 57 minutes
deals with the differences, and then the second half gets to anti-homosexual
movements, including actual acts of terrorism and the rise of the Religious
Right. Things have sadly become worse
since the release of this program, but it was definitely on the correct course
dealing with its subject matter and it makes it a key documentary work on the
subject.
The 1.33 X 1 image originated on professional NTSC analog
tape and looks pretty good for its age, including stills and stock film
footage. The interview subjects are
always offering interesting opinions and insight, even when you don’t
agree. The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is
on the weak side, sounding monophonic for the most part. There are no extras, but Pride Divide
is a key work about debates on several fronts that have only grown
stronger. Wonder if we’ll see a sequel?
- Nicholas Sheffo
