Common Threads
Common Threads tells the powerful story of the first decade of the AIDS epidemic in the US.
Available Formats
About
Narrated by Dustin Hoffman
Academy Award, Best Feature Documentary (1989)
An Olympic athlete; a gay activist; a boy with hemophilia; a recovering heroin addict; a closeted Navy commander: five very diverse lives that shared a common fate. Their lives—along with thousands of others—are woven together in a giant memorial patchwork quilt, that is solemnly unfolded in the US capitol to protest the government's refusal to respond to a growing epidemic. Common Threads tells the powerful story of the first decade of the AIDS epidemic in the US.
Festivals & Screenings
Academy Award
Best Feature Documentary
George Foster Peabody Award
University of Georgia School of Journalism
Emmy Award
Best Original Score - Bobby McFerrin
Reviews
"Slams through stereotypes … Slowly, carefully, powerfully, Common Threads takes the cold statistics and gives them very recognizable faces."
- The New York Times
"A great documentary."
- The Washington Post
"As powerful and moving
a documentary as you will ever see. A+."
- People
"A documentary with the cumulative emotional impact of great tragedy."
- Los Angeles Times
"Simply stunning…a study in devotion and anger and courage at a dark time. And through it all, it’s love that shines the brightest."
-Variety
Credits
Produced and Directed by
Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman
Narrated by
Dustin Hoffman
Producer
Bill Couturie
Executive Producers
Howard Rosenman
Sandy Gallin
Carol Baum
Associate Producer
BZ Petroff
Story by
Rob Epstein
Jeffrey Friedman
Cindy Ruskin
Edited by
Jeffrey Friedman
Rob Epstein
Director of Photography
Dyanna Taylor
Jean de Segonzac
Music Composed and Performed by
Bobby McFerrin
and Voicestra
Storytellers
Sara Lewinstein
Suzi and David Mandell
Sallie Perryman
Vito Russo (1946-1990)
Tracy Torrey (1940-1988)
