In 1985, "The Times of Harvey Milk" won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. It's an exceptionally moving film about the political life and assassination of Harvey Milk, America's first openly gay politician. The film consists of lots of archival footage and interviews with people who knew and worked with Milk. Overall, it's a very, very good film--quite moving whether you are gay or straight and I can understand why it won the Oscar. However, one part of the film bothered me. While I know the film was about Harvey Milk, he was NOT the only one murdered that day by the evil Dan White. Before Milk was killed, Mayor Moscone was butchered as well--yet he is barely mentioned in the film. Now I am NOT saying the movie should have focused equally on Moscone (since it's called "The Times of Harvey Milk") but to focus again and again on JUST the murder of Milk seemed insensitive--the killing of both men was tragic. Still, it's well worth seeing--and quite sad.
By the way, since this film came out in 1984, the story did not end with White only serving five years in jail and was then paroled!! This IS mentioned in the film. BUT, what isn't is that two years later, he killed himself (no great loss to the world).
A better film would have focused on BOTH men...as today, few even remember that Moscone, too, was killed that day.
By the way, since this film came out in 1984, the story did not end with White only serving five years in jail and was then paroled!! This IS mentioned in the film. BUT, what isn't is that two years later, he killed himself (no great loss to the world).
A better film would have focused on BOTH men...as today, few even remember that Moscone, too, was killed that day.