Selfishness and self-assuredness, defenses against insecurity and doubt, lead to accusations that are not spoken and admissions that are not specified; all of these internal convolutions brush over the issue of REAL abuse of children, physical, social, racial, or otherwise, but entertains us with psychological power plays, and the caring of /for innocence/naivete. Acting superb.
Van Sant captured a time in the seventies, when the idealism for all of the US's, those of us on margin of mainstream society were yearning for less shame and more empowerment, spurred Harvey Milk to activism. The film portrays his energy, his playful seductiveness, and his passion. The news clips remind the viewer of the reality that was then, and the parallel with today. And more importantly the film celebrates a community that stood up for its rights. Penn's protrayal echoes the Milk's core. Van Sant captures the spirit of the times...