Silence = Death and Positive were the first and second parts of an AIDS trilogy by Rosa von Praunheim made in 1989. Phil collaborated on both films, and was the central figure in Positive.

Silence = Death examines AIDS through the visions of a number of writers and artists, including Allen Ginsberg, who declares that "the planet itself has AIDS," Keith Haring and David Wojnarowicz.

Positive represents the answer of gay men living in New York to AIDS and demonstrates the great and courageous struggle of a minority which has organized itself in the face of ignorance on the part of the state and the city.


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Directed by Rosa von Praunheim
Total Running Time: 90 mins.
Original Format: 16mm.


(Click on the images below to view the video clips)

1. Introduction
    2:06 mins.

2. Artists
    2:51 mins.

3. Names Quilt
    3:13 mins.

4. Gran Fury
    1:07 mins.




Directed by Rosa von Praunheim,
In Collaboration with Phil Zwickler, Robert Hilferty, and Steven Weiss.
Total Running Time: 60 mins.
Original Format: 16mm.


(Click on the images below to view the video clips)

1. Introduction
    3:34 mins.

2. Larry Kramer
    1:48 mins.

3. Michael Callen
    3:18 mins.

4. Interviews
    57 secs.

5. GMHC
    1:19 mins.

6. Sarah Schulman
    1:23 mins.

7. Mayor Koch
    2:55 mins.

8. Central Park
    3:25 mins.

9. ACTUP
    2:56 mins.

10. Phil Zwickler
    1:19 mins.





  "Of AIDS, Frustration and Fury"
The New York Times
by Janet Maslin
1990

Review of both Silence = Death and Positive.
 
  "Movies About AIDS Take the Spotlight"
by Jonathan Mandell
1990

Reviews from the 1990 Documentary Film Festival of New York.
 
  Film at the Public
Spring/Summer 1990

Silence = Death and Positive screen in the Joseph Papp Public Film series.
 
  Silence = Death
Berlin Film Festival
1990

The original catalogue information for "Silence = Death", which screened in the Panorama section of the Berlin Film Festival.
 
  Silence = Death
Nyon International Documentary Film Festival

 


  Positive
Berlin Film Festival
1990

The original catalogue information for Positive, which screened in the Panorama section of the Berlin Film Festival.
 
  Positive
At the Documentary Festival of New York
April 5-22, 1990
 
  Positive
Commentary Edits