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Sex Positive

Play trailer Poster for Sex Positive R 2009 1h 15m Documentary LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
In the early 1980s, as the shadow of an epidemic is upon the gay community, Richard Berkowitz, a gay, HIV-positive hustler, has a revelation. AIDS, he realizes, is not just a disease randomly affecting gay men, but rather one that is sexually transmitted -- which means that the practice of safe sex might help prevent it. Berkowitz's idea, however, is greeted in the gay community with considerable hostility. Undaunted, he risks everything to get the word out.

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Sex Positive

Critics Reviews

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Andrew O'Hehir Salon.com 12/18/2021
Wein's film provides a fascinating and crucial slice of traumatic sexual history that's all but invisible to younger generations. Go to Full Review David Wiegand San Francisco Chronicle 07/03/2009
4/4
Wein tackles an incredibly complex array of issues surrounding HIV, focusing largely on Berkowitz, once a nice young Jewish kid at Rutgers who found a lucrative career as an S&M hustler before becoming an activist and co-author. Go to Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times 06/19/2009
4/5
Daryl Wein calls attention both to unjustly neglected pioneering AIDS activist Richard Berkowitz and his still widely ignored groundbreaking promotion of safe sex. Go to Full Review Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru 06/28/2009
8.70/10
A thoroughly fascinating, illuminating and vital documentary for everyone young and old. Go to Full Review David Noh Film Journal International 06/17/2009
Scruffy but arresting documentary about an ever-embattled, pioneering fighter in the gay AIDS wars. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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11/25/2012 Just to think back then. If you were gay and having a blast, not knowing that an epidemic was coming and you contracted the HIV virus! You knew deep down inside you soul you're life was over. I still blame the government it was their way of controlling the population and if u look at ot today. Theres many different stages of HIV / AIDS. See more 06/28/2012 This woefully short doc, in essence, tells the story of the invention of safe sex and the split within the gay community over how HIV is transmitted. On that ground alone, Sex Positive is required viewing. The information presented and people profiled are as integral to American history as Washington, Lincoln, Franklin and King. Why? Because before they took a stand for what they believed, no one had heard of safe sex. Now that term is nearly ubiquitous throughout the world. The entire story of AIDS, from the first cases to the governments non-action to the activists to now, deserves more than 75 minutes to connect the people involved and document this important part of history. Good start, even with the somewhat lacking camera work and terrible jump cuts within interviews. See more 10/30/2011 As a documentary it has a number of flaws, but it is a sobering, important film with a message that is gradually becoming lost. See more 03/05/2011 Excelente documental sobre Richard Berkowitz, un "S&M Hustler" que se convirtio en activista gay y llego a ser uno de los primeros inventores y defensores del "Sexo Seguro" entre la comunidad gay de Manhattan. Gran material con excelentes entrevistas e invaluables lecciones acerca de la epidemia y de la forma en que las distintas comunidades reaccionan. See more 03/05/2011 Excelente documental sobre Richard Berkowitz, un "S&M Hustler" que se convirtio en activista gay y llego a ser uno de los primeros inventores y defensores del "Sexo Seguro" entre la comunidad gay de Manhattan. Gran material con excelentes entrevistas e invaluables lecciones acerca de la epidemia y de la forma en que las distintas comunidades reaccionan. See more 12/16/2010 a very important movie. See more Read all reviews
Sex Positive

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Cast & Crew

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Daryl Wein

Director

Don Adler

Actor

Richard Berkowitz

Actor

Demetre Daskalakis

Actor

Richard Dworkin

Actor

William Haseltine

Actor

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Sex Positive

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the early 1980s, as the shadow of an epidemic is upon the gay community, Richard Berkowitz, a gay, HIV-positive hustler, has a revelation. AIDS, he realizes, is not just a disease randomly affecting gay men, but rather one that is sexually transmitted -- which means that the practice of safe sex might help prevent it. Berkowitz's idea, however, is greeted in the gay community with considerable hostility. Undaunted, he risks everything to get the word out.
Director
Daryl Wein
Producer
David Oliver Cohen, Daryl Wein
Distributor
Regent Releasing
Rating
R (Language|Graphic Images|Graphic Dialogue|Strong Sexual Content)
Genre
Documentary, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 12, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$11.5K
Runtime
1h 15m
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