The Normal Heart

This riveting HBO drama tells the story of gay activist and writer Ned Weeks who, at the beginning of the 1980s, was one of the first to vociferously criticize the marginalization of the then unknown HIV virus. As a supporter of monogamy, he was a thorn in the side of his gay friends: 30 years previously, they rallied behind promiscuity as an expression of their right to freely love whomever they wished. This adaptation of Larry Kramer's Tony-winning play offers an unvarnished look at American sexual politics of the early 1980s, exploring the efforts of gay activists and their kindred spirits in the medical community to uncover the truth about the emerging epidemic, first referred to as "gay cancer." The excellent performances, which will surely be acknowledged during next spring's award ceremonies, were supplied by Julia Roberts, Jim Parsons, Alfred Molina, and especially Mark Ruffalo in the role of Ned Weeks. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)