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Special Features
None.
Editorial Reviews
Review
Of all the cinematic explorations of the AIDS crisis, not one is more heartbreaking and inspiring than WE WERE HERE… Throughout WE WERE HERE there is not a hint of mawkishness, self-pity or self-congratulation. The humility, wisdom and cumulative sorrow expressed lend the film a glow of spirituality and infuse it with grace. --The New York Times
It s impossible for a single film to capture the devastation wrought by AIDS, or the heroism with which many in the LGBT community responded to it. But director David Weissman s documentary is such a powerful achievement because he just about does it. --LA Weekly
WE WERE HERE revisits the voices of a lost generation, and is a film that shook this young gay reviewer to the core, leaving a strengthened sense of historical rootedness and pride in my community that will stay with me for the rest of my life. --TheWrap.com
It s impossible for a single film to capture the devastation wrought by AIDS, or the heroism with which many in the LGBT community responded to it. But director David Weissman s documentary is such a powerful achievement because he just about does it. --LA Weekly
WE WERE HERE revisits the voices of a lost generation, and is a film that shook this young gay reviewer to the core, leaving a strengthened sense of historical rootedness and pride in my community that will stay with me for the rest of my life. --TheWrap.com
Product Description
Product Description
David Weissman s critically-acclaimed 2012 Independent Spirit Award nominee, WE WERE HERE is the first documentary to take a deep and reflective look back at the arrival and impact of AIDS in San Francisco. It explores how the City s inhabitants were affected by, and how they responded to, that calamitous epidemic. Though a San Francisco-based story, WE WERE HERE extends beyond San Francisco and beyond AIDS itself. It speaks to our capacity as individuals to rise to the occasion, and to the incredible power of a community coming together with love, compassion, and determination.
Offering an intensely personal account of five individuals whose lives were forever transformed by the tragedy of AIDS, WE WERE HERE offers a hauntingly beautiful tribute to an era of tremendous suffering, loss and resilience.
Special Features
- Filmmaker Interview
- HIV PSAs from 1990s
- Theatrical Trailer
Customer Reviews
“ While I think some viewers were expecting a comprehensive overview of the AIDS crisis, I feel that what Weissman has accomplished is far more relevant and provocative. ”
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Personal War Stories from The Front Lines Of The AIDS Crisis: Heartrending And Thought Provoking
May 10, 2012
Format:DVD
It's hard not to be affected by David Weissman's stirring documentary about the early days of AIDS in San Francisco "We Were Here." While I think some viewers were expecting a comprehensive overview of the AIDS crisis, I feel that what Weissman has accomplished is far more relevant and provocative. This is not history or news exactly (although both feature prominently), but eyewitness accounts by those on the front lines at a momentous time in our national consciousness. Not given a choice, these were pioneers in a new world. There was no precedent for what was happening, and little initial support, but everyone had to navigate a new life path with this tumultuous and deadly development.
"We Were Here" tells the story of five individuals who experienced the horrors first hand. There is a nurse who dedicated her life to her patients and was a trailblazer in the arena of research, a flower seller who gives accounts of the visible devastation, an outcast who became an essential caregiver, an artist who suffered great personal loss, and an individual that would become a leading advocate in political and social forums. While it is an interesting and diverse cross section, make no mistake--they are all telling the same story. And as horrifying and as unpleasant as it is, it is also a tale of perseverance, support, and ultimately hope. Ordinary citizens had the chance to be heroes, even in the smallest of ways, and the film never forgets these individual contributions as huge milestones in an ongoing epidemic.
The film, itself, is solidly constructed. The five interviewees alternate within the presentation and the use of archival footage, photographs, and news stories help define the climate of a city in turmoil. From the late seventies to current times, the film shows how awareness and response has evolved through the decades. Its depiction is frequently troubling and oftentimes inspiring. "We Were Here" was a Documentary Nominee at the Independent Spirit Awards and has some images and moments that I won't soon forget. Effective and deeply affecting, it truly honors those that were taken too early. KGHarris, 5/12.
"We Were Here" tells the story of five individuals who experienced the horrors first hand. There is a nurse who dedicated her life to her patients and was a trailblazer in the arena of research, a flower seller who gives accounts of the visible devastation, an outcast who became an essential caregiver, an artist who suffered great personal loss, and an individual that would become a leading advocate in political and social forums. While it is an interesting and diverse cross section, make no mistake--they are all telling the same story. And as horrifying and as unpleasant as it is, it is also a tale of perseverance, support, and ultimately hope. Ordinary citizens had the chance to be heroes, even in the smallest of ways, and the film never forgets these individual contributions as huge milestones in an ongoing epidemic.
The film, itself, is solidly constructed. The five interviewees alternate within the presentation and the use of archival footage, photographs, and news stories help define the climate of a city in turmoil. From the late seventies to current times, the film shows how awareness and response has evolved through the decades. Its depiction is frequently troubling and oftentimes inspiring. "We Were Here" was a Documentary Nominee at the Independent Spirit Awards and has some images and moments that I won't soon forget. Effective and deeply affecting, it truly honors those that were taken too early. KGHarris, 5/12.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a remarkable piece of work. It is a moving and tragic tale, sensitively brought to the screen with a poignancy and delicacy fitting to the subject matter and to the individuals and community that it represents. Ultimately, this means the human community that we all are a part of. It is a lovely tribute to those that were there, both those living still, and to those who did not survive this epidemic. It's a very warm and human story and an important chapter in our history; a history that could too easily have been forgotten or dismissed. It will move your heart...
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Mark
Format:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Verified Purchase
I don't know what to say about this film because I had to turn it off after 30 minutes. Too many memories from a time I thought I had forgotten. It is a work of love, I could see that. But it is a funeral and eulogy also. AIDS killed my friends and my patients and it made me old when I was still young and I guess, after all these years, I'm not strong enough to relive it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful, moving
Informative, and heartfelt. We Were Here highlights personal stories from the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco. Far more gripping than the over-hyped How to Survive a Plague
Published 19 days ago by Christine Hoyt
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Was There!
I really loved this film. I'm not a man nor am I gay but I remember vividly when this was all happening. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Maureen Steinhauser
4.0 out of 5 stars
A movement was born.
I sometimes forget how big and momentous the struggle against AIDS was and this movie brings back the initially helplessness and triumph of the gay community over the disease. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Janey
5.0 out of 5 stars
a more personal look back at the epidemic
I volunteered as a "buddy" through the Minnesota AIDS Project back in the 80's. This brought it all back to me. Those days were so confusing and scary and sad. Read more
Published 2 months ago by K. Ketcham
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent film - very moving
This film is SO incredibly sad and touching. Will be more interesting if you lived through that time but also a good education for younger generations who don't remember a time... Read more
Published 2 months ago by seattlemama11
5.0 out of 5 stars
Memories
The film was very thought provoking. Reminding me if my own history. I was one of those people who lived thru it but didn't listen an hear things as they were happening. Read more
Published 4 months ago by George Bozko
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very touching
I loved this movie. I found it to be so touching and insightful. The AIDS epidemic was happening when I was a teenager living in El Paso, Texas. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Denise3
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heartbreaking, honest storytelling
"We Were Here" accomplishes something wonderful in an understated way. Using the voices of witnesses to the AIDS outbreak in San Francisco, the film brings the shared memories of... Read more
Published 5 months ago by josech
4.0 out of 5 stars
MUST MOVIE.
LOOSING FRIENDS TO AIDS TOUCH MY HEART AND TO KNOW THAT THERE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT LIVE TRU IT IN SAN FRANCISCO STILL ALIVE SHOULD GIVE HOPE TO THOSE THAT HAVE THE DISEASE.
Published 5 months ago by Moises Solivan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must See
This movie is a must see for those who lived during the beginning of the AIDS crisis. It is moving and emotional. Read more
Published 6 months ago by RJ
