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This groundbreaking film explores the power of youth and beauty in the gay community. A diverse group of gay men, ages 19 to 77, negotiate their fears of becoming old, undesirable and alone. The film critically examines the pressure to look young and attractive, lack of positive older role models and ways in which AIDS intensifies the fear and process of aging. Beauty Before Age offers a male perspective on a historically female issue and illuminates the larger societal obsession with physical appearance.
Complex, sharp, disturbing, compassionate. The big connections in the film crackle and linger: between masculinity and loneliness, between age, AIDS and visibility, between the pursuit of wisdom and the pursuit of beauty. A terrific teaching tool.
Joshua Gamson
Professor of Sociology, University of San Francisco
Astonishing ... highly recommended for all gay, and most generally comprehensive, collections.
K. Glaser
Video Librarian
Provocative ... the aging of the gay community now makes a discussion of the issues raised by this film essential.
Jay Ruby
Visual Anthropology Review, Vol. 16, #2
Outstanding production values and provocative subject content.
Ellen Greenblatt
Educational Media Reviews Online
full review
Precise yet elegant - recommended to students of social and behavioral sciences, as well as public health organizations.
A.M. Williams
Dept of Anthropology, Yale University
AWARDS & SCREENINGS:
- GOLD APPLE, National Educational Media Network
- CERTIFICATE OF MERIT, International Documentary Association
- GRAND PRIZE, University of Oregon Queer Film Festival
- AWARD OF RECOGNITION, Missouri Video Festival
- HONORABLE MENTION, Silver Images Film Festival
- National Institutes of Health, AIDS & Aging Conference
- New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York
- BBC British Short Film Festival
- Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
- Public Television Broadcast
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