Hard-hitting, real and important despite many think it isn't, "Absolutely Positive" is a short film focusing on the lives of four characters dealing a similar decisive moment in their lives: when they finally receive the results of their HIV tests which can go two ways, positive or negative. It's almost ludicrous of some to think "what's the big deal?" or "it isn't that bad anymore" because the treatments for HIV/AIDS are helpful nowadays, or you don't die of this once you're treated but let's face it, the numbers keep on growing specially in developed nations which brought it out to the world of how devastating the then unknown virus was back in its inception. And yes, there's even drugs to use up to 72 hours after exposure to it and some to use previous after a possible risky contact - whatever the case it's 28 days of poor health with nausea, weakness and other things just because of one wild night. Not the topic of the movie, just something I know and heard that feels appropriate for a project like this.
The great thing about the movie is the characters and their journey before and after the result. The movie begins with the four lead characters testing themselves at a clinic to check if they have HIV or not, and the reasons why they're doing the test, which comes with flashbacks from their sexual past or not. Sean (Brandon Nivens) is a somewhat responsible gay teen doing the test for the first time; Kyle and Marissa (Tavis L. Baker and Aubrey Horne) are a straight couple close to take a step further in their relation and get married - this part actually confused me, things I don't know exactly in reality, but in order to get a licensed marriage they have to fulfill the test requisite; and there's Joe (Ryan Davenport), a category unknown to most individuals since he's considered an MSM - Men who have Sex With Men, meaning he's a straight guy who engages in sex with other men but doesn't necessarily identifies as being homosexual or bisexual. And we follow their gathering at the clinic and also their past with possible unknown partners - except for the straight couple and that left a huge question mark.
Anxiety, tension, the nerve-wrecking feelings that goes through the minds of someone's expecting an important result to come, one that can leave an inescapable mark in our lives with dealing with a chronic disease and feel like it's the end of the world...those are some of the topics brought on by the movie. From the young Sean unable to cope with the outcome he might get to the lovely couple assured there's nothing wrong with them and to Joe's high and mighty arrogance attitude thinking this is someone other people get except him, they go through all of those feelings and thoughts; and we can feel it deep inside. Anthony Williams film succeeds in hitting this nerve, a wake-up call to many folks out there.
It's not easy and the film accomplishes in taking us through the route and experiences those characters faced and the ultimate result they received. And for a sort of campaign project I truly loved for its message (downbeat to extreme, I must add, if you pay attention) and its boldness in including actions of sexual nature, very brave and honest, I loved the situations presented and the reactions, it feels true to life. And it also presents some unusual (or at least to me unknown) facts about outcome results which I find it very interesting; however, I wonder if those actually happen and work - this is concerning about one of the positive tests when the individual was asked by another personnel from the clinic to disclose sexual contacts, people to be tracked down. I wondered a lot about that.
The film was very good, open and honest about a hardly ever talked topic. Despite some poor acting from some cast members, others were very good (the nurse from the clinic was awesome and real to the core), the movie holds a massive relevance to our current day and age people, careless as usual whether in their relations or just avoiding to get tested. 9/10
