Life Support

Queen Latifah is truly outstanding on this biopic about a former drug addict who becomes HIV+ and now devotes her life to helping others avoid or deal with the disease.

But, it is not just the social work that is compelling, it is the fact that even social workers have real lives that intersect with and compete with their duties.

We feel Ana's pain as she tries to convince her sisters in the community to deal realistically with the AIDS epidemic that is the leading cause of death for black women between 24-35. At the same time, she is dealing with a husband that infected her when they were both crack addicts. She is also trying to raise a young daughter, while trying to reconnect with a daughter she lost during her drug-use period. It's almost more than a normal person can handle, and seemingly impossible for a reformed drug-user.

Queen Latifah is assisted by a great cast that includes Wendell Pierce (Ray, "The Wire), Gloria Reuben ("ER"), and newcomer Rachel Nicks.

In Brooklyn, New York, the former crack addicted Ana Wallace (Queen Latifah) is HIV positive and is a volunteer in the Life Support, an organization that promotes a fight against AIDS in the Afro-American community. Ana wanders through the streets handing out condoms and helping people with AIDS through lectures and advices. She lives with her mate Slick (Wendell Pierce), who has transmitted AIDS to her, and their little daughter Kim (Rayelle Parker). She has lost the custody of her older daughter Kelly (Rachel Nicks) that lives with her estranged mother Lucille (Anna Deavere Smith).

When Kelly's childhood gay friend Amare (Evan Ross), who is sick and rejected by his sister Tanya (Tracee Ellis Ross), vanishes on the streets of Brooklyn, Ana seeks him out and tries to save him. Meanwhile Lucille decides to move to Virginia with Kelly, and Ana reflects about her life and the relationship with Kelly.

"Life Support" is a wonderful tribute to life inspired in the true story of a black woman that has overcome her addiction to crack and has become an activist in her community of an organization called Life Support. Despite being a sad story, the message transmitted by this little film is tremendously positive and uplifting. The Afro-American actors and actresses have magnificent performances and Queen Latifah shines in the role of Ana Wallace. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Juntos pela Vida" ("Together for Life")

This was an amazing film! Congratulations HBO, Very powerful story of a mother infected with HIV working for a New York support group called "Life Support." Ana Willis, brilliantly played by Queen Latifah, is a former drug addict who devotes her life to preventing others from traveling down the same path she did. Amazingly real and well-acted, this is a great story. Tracee Ellis Ross turns in a scene stealing performance as well as her brother, Evan Ross, who brought a vulnerability to his accurate portrayal of a young, gay street hustler infected with HIV. Please take the time to watch this, it's a wonderful story with a great cast and an important message!

Life Support takes a frank and interesting look at the AIDS epidemic and its effect on African-American women and other people in the United States today. The plot moves along well and the acting is very convincing; Queen Latifah leads a fine cast and the cinematography is excellent. Life Support truly proves that Queen Latifah can not only handle a serious dramatic role--she can truly make it into a tour de force. How can ANYONE not relate to this movie ?? Awesome story , Impressive acting by Queen Latifah along with 2 of Diana Ross's children . Tried to hold back tears on this one !! A must have for your collection !!

Growing up in the Bronx with drugs and AIDS being overwhelming issues even 25 years ago, I know how important this film was then and, unfortunately, continues to be today. This film is long overdue in its education of prevention, its compassion for fellow humans, and more than anything - its hope. The AIDS issue is stitched together beautifully following the story of a mending family torn apart by drugs many years ago. It's a must see to understand the inner city and in solving this together. Every part was played to perfection. The writer's depth of understanding that this is a far-reaching issue that invades even the simplest aspects of daily life, family trust, and personal pride is worth mentioning.