For those who aren’t familiar with the story, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, and led the gay rights movement in that city. He was a business owner, running a small camera store in the Castro district, which is still a major American gay mecca. He served in his post for eleven months before being gunned down by a fellow former Supervisor who had just killed San Francisco Mayor George Moscone moments earlier.

The film succeeds on many levels, most notably with Penn’s performance. He is so absorbed by the character, that it’s easy to forget that we’re watching an actor, not the real man. What’s more, the supporting actors were all at their best, each one taking on a special role in the film.

As the opening credits rolled, the audience is reminded — or introduced — to the modern history of the gay rights struggles in the 20th century. Not too long before the gay pride parades and festivals was a time when the only place gay men could gather was in bars or clubs, and were always at risk of being invaded by police. “Offenders” would be dragged off in paddy wagons en masse. Later, it would be Anita Bryant and her “Save the Children” group that would be the face of the enemy of the gay rights movement, who spread her vitriol with a smile and a song.

After this onslaught montage of the images of the tyrannical majority, we’re introduced to Milk and his new boyfriend Scott Smith (Spider-Man’s James Franco) as they make the decision to move to San Francisco. Penn clearly provides the shape and face of the film, but it’s Franco who provides the heart and soul. In the two men, you see a genuine relationship, one that’s rarely — if ever — shown on screen. They cook, they clean, and they had their struggles. Even after they parted, they remained friends. As bizarre (or disturbing) as some readers might find it, the chemistry between the two men is genuine.

Scott Smith (James Franco)j and Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) share a moment

The key points of the film, as would be expected, revolve around the many campaigns and political events in which Milk participated. His first race was in 1973, and met with a political cold shoulder, even from the gay community. It was then that Milk and Smith were both long-haired hippy types, but Milk’s leadership was becoming evident. Later, he learned to build alliances, including with the Teamsters union.

His decision to become a serious candidate in 1975 involved a number of major changes, including a haircut, suits, and a more clean-cut image overall. He quickly earned the respect and support of those around him, as well as those in organized labor. It’s during this time that the film shows his rise to leadership in the community.

Milk’s supporting cast is a diverse blend of rising stars and seasoned pros. Speed Racer’s Emile Hirsch fills the oversized glasses of Milk’s protégé and longtime gay activist Cleve Jones (Jones later conceived the AIDS Memorial Quilt), and Lucas Grabeel of High School Musical fame takes on the role of photographer Danny Nicoletta. Victor Garber (Titanic fans remember him as Thomas Andrews) portrays Milk’s greatest ally, Mayor Moscone. Finally, Josh Brolin (W.) fills the proud-yet-disturbed shoes of Dan White.

Harvey Milk after an impromptu gay rights march on June 7, 1977. Photo by J.M. Pritikin/Chicago

One key scene which showcases Milk’s leadership is an impromptu gay rights march after a critical election. The film places the march after a 1978 vote to repeal gay rights in Wichita, Kansas. The actual event, as photographed by J.M. Pritikin, actually took place earlier in June of 1977, after the election in Miami-Dade County. That vote struck down a gay rights ordinance in that city and was the result of the fever-pitch campaign by singer Anita Bryant.

While the film’s success is in its cast, script, and overall historical accuracy, the one drawback is its direction and composition. Director Gus Van Sant has put together a capable film, yet his own composition choices border on the jarringly irritating. A few scenes scenes are out of place, and some points of history, including the march after the Dade County election are casually changed for the sake of dramatic flow. This is the flaw of a great many biopics, and Milk is no exception.

Despite its flaws, Milk is clearly a film worth viewing; not only for the stellar performances of the cast, but for its bird’s-eye view of 1970’s gay rights history. It’s a pity that it was released after this year’s election, since it retells the struggle of another California voter initiative – proposition 6 – which would have called for the state to bar gays and lesbians from being teachers. Unlike this year’s proposition 8, a ban on gay marriage, that proposition failed dramatically.

Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch) begins his long activist career

While this film is unquestionably about gay men, Van Sant wisely focused the story on the lives of the people and their work. Here, we see gay men portrayed as normal as we’ve yet to see on film. It’s a story about struggle, passion, frustration, and ultimately about tragedy. Clearly, it’s a film that reaches out to all audiences. Sadly, many in this area will pass it by, assuming it’s only for the gay community. It’s a film that tells the story of courage in the face of great opposition, something to which everyone can relate.

Just as Harvey Milk worked hard for all of the people in his city, Milk is reaching out to the rest of us. No matter what side of the closet you’re in, or even if you care about closets, it’s a story that’s worth telling. Its message of hope, genuine honesty, and integrity is what drove Harvey Milk, and is a driving force for those who still struggle for equality today.

Milk is currently playing in Nashville at the Regal Cinemas Green Hills 16 theatre.

I remember the first time I heard about Milk; it was during a meeting of the gay-straight alliance at Austin Peay State University. The advisor was long-time gay activist and art professor, Dr. Bruce Childs (who’s now enjoying a very well-deserved retirement). Childs mentioned Harvey Milk in passing during a conversation, which inspired me to learn more about this keystone piece of American gay history.

Back in 1977, when Milk first came to light in San Francisco politics, the country’s gay community was beginning to enjoy some much-needed exposure and was well on its way to achieving a few minor protections and gay-rights laws. (Some, like the anti-discrimination law passed in Dade County, Florida, were later repealed through the work of “religious right” leaders). Bryant later received her thanks: a pie in the face.

Bryant also led the push for Florida’s ban on gay adoption (still the only one in the country, thank goodness). It was men and women like Harvey Milk and other leaders who would work to provide a strong, positive face for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender community. To say that tempers were flared during that time (especially with Bryant’s asinine declaration that she would help “get rid” of all the homosexuals in the country) was a bit of an understatement.

Milk, in stark contrast to the hateful rants of those using religion to excuse their vitriol, devoted much of his life to speaking out against the humanitarian crises of the day. After moving with his then-partner Scott Smith to San Francisco’s, they opened a camera shop on Castro Street — which was quickly becoming that city’s gay neighborhood.

Milk’s popularity grew quickly, thanks to his humor and a certain charm, eventually being called “the mayor of Castro Street,” Ironically, he lost his first election, coming in tenth out of thirty-two candidates in the race for a seat on the Board of Supervisors (city council) of San Francisco. He ran (and lost) again in 1975, and finally won the seat in 1977, thus becoming the first openly-gay elected official in the country.

The brief Biography shown on notablebiographies.com details his very brief time on the supervisory board:

As city supervisor, Milk was the driving force behind the passage of a gay-rights law that prohibited discrimination, or unequal treatment, in housing and employment based on sexual orientation. At his urging, the city announced a drive to hire more gay and lesbian police officers. He also started programs that benefited minorities, workers, and the elderly. Milk then gained national attention for his role in defeating a state senate proposal that would have prohibited gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools in California.

Harvey Milk once said, “If a bullet should go through my head let that bullet go through every closet door.” That’s exactly what happened on November 27, 1978, when former city supervisor Dan White shot Milk and Mayor George Moscone. Both men were killed.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Milk, a new film by Gus Van Sant, will be released to theatres all across the country. It will be premiered this week in California, sent to limited release on November 26th, and then will go to a wide USA release on December 5th. The movie stars Sean Penn as Harvey Milk, Emile Hirsch as Cleve Jones, and Josh Brolin as Dan White. James Franco plays Scott Smith. It’s my sincere hope that it will come to Clarksville.

Milk himself was the topic of an earlier Academy Award-winning documentary, The Times of Harvey Milk, released in 1984. The documentary is already known throughout the gay community as the definitive story of Harvey Milk, and the new film stands to reintroduce the entire nation to the story of one man who made a difference in both life and death.

I want to give a special thanks to Dr. Bruce Childs for his work and his tireless passion that he held for his entire tenure at Austin Peay. And I especially thank him for introducing me to the story of a man who’s passion — and life — changed everything.

Thanks, Bruce.