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Critical analysis of Gus Van Sant’s “Milk”

The film “Milk” by Gus Van Sant, revolves around the persecution of the homosexuals in

the 1970s. It was during the introductory phase of homosexuality in the American soil and hence

the film portrays the struggles for recognition and political affiliation and equality. The film

depicts the misrepresentation of the gay community in the political arenas and psychological

trauma that the gay community underwent and also those close to them. The film evokes viewers

mind to a dimensionality political space by reenacting the misrepresentations and inequality of

the homosexuals in the active politics in America.

The film is set in a streamlined sexuality behavior where homophobic tendencies are very

prevalent and being a gay seen as a vice that cannot be tolerated. The threshold of all this is

caped with scenes of gays being maimed and shot, beaten and even worse being killed. All this

arouses the antennas of the viewers who may be ignorant of pure moral sycophancy happening to

the gay persons. The film also shows the magnitude of the hatred towards the gay men the

heterosexual children, and this arises when Supervisor Milk and Senator Briggs during their

debate which that Proposition 6 is on the basis as a matter of fact of total hatred and lack of

concern to the gay community. Lastly, the film shows the desire for social and political equality

to all the Americans regardless of their race and their sexual orientation. In a certain scene, Milk
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is observed quoting the Declaration of Independence appealing for equality in society and

politics for the gay persons.

The film teems with scenes of hatred towards homosexuals and homophobic tendencies

that show the viewers the ugly side being a gay in the 1970s. For instance, Cleve Jones described

how the gays, the lesbians, transgender individuals and the heterosexual compatriots were killed

in Spain and how their blood flowed in the gutters of Spain when they were rioting for political

and social equality.

In another scene Supervisor Milk when debating with Senator Briggs in Francisco and

again in Fullerton, Brigg claims that heterosexual is a moral decay and a lifestyle that those who

are at it wants to pass to children. Milk confirmed this scenario but still maintain that those that

finds themselves in that line should not be discriminated. Milk was trying to fight for the gay

person’s right to recognition. Lastly at the end of the film Milk receives a death threat and after

that goes to the public and quotes a Declaration of Independence, saying “All men are created

equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights.” Then he suggested the interest of the bigots

erases those words from the document showing the heightened degrees of hatred towards the

homosexuals.

Like many fascinating movies “Milk” transcends through a unique genre that is felt by

different and diversified society and touches on important socio-political human life that gives

them hope. It also offers an opportunity to the watchers to express their apathy and accept the

reality as depicted by Gus Van Sant. By watching the film, the viewer recognizes the naked truth

and reality of how the society treats marginalized societies like gays community and through

such emotional scenes, the viewer has no option but to side with them as they fight for equality

and social recognition.

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Work cited

BibMe, Milk.Dir. Gus Sant. Columbia. 2008. Film