Something to Live For: The Alison Gertz Story

Ever since I can remember I have had a massive crush on Molly Ringwald who in this film takes on the best role of her career as Alison Gertz a truly inspirational woman who died of aids in 1992. Molly and a great supporting cast show the true devastation that this disease causes on a person with (at the time of infection) no previous sexual experience, no drug taking past and no history of blood transfusion. The best line of the film is when Alison stands up and says "look at me, i am the face of aids" showing that despite some peoples misconceptions people with aids look no different to you and me.

The film makes good use of its lead characters and makes what could have easily been a typically preachy TV-movie into a viewing experience that (whilst sometimes unpleasant) is educating and informative whilst not being boring.

Molly received (quite rightly) an emmy award for her acting in this film and it is easy to see why as when you view this film you feel as if you are living the experience with her and a good performer should make you feel this way during any acting performance. This tele-film has affected me in a way that no other tele-film has done before or since. It has a stellar cast (Lee Grant and Martin Landau as the parents) its doesn't preach and doesn't pretend to be something that it isn't. If this had been a big Hollywood blockbuster then the story would not have been so well told and would have been padded out. This film should be shown in schools to educate young people of the dangers of aids.

What makes the film really magnificent is how it challenges people's beliefs about aids and presents a true story in a well written non-preachy and non-patronising way. Well acted and a true masterpiece thats very rare in TV-movie land.

If you would like to know more about Alison Gertz and pledge your support for aids victims then please visit www.loveheals.org thanks!

For the benifit of those not in the know this movie is called Fatal Love here in the u.k and is available on Odyssey video

I actually taped this movie 8 years ago and watched it for the first time since I had originally seen it. I loved the movie and thought Molly did a great job doing Alison. Lee and Martin did a good job too. I think that the best line in the whole film is when Alison says that most people think that AIDS is some kind of punishment for either taking drugs and/or sleeping around. That to me could not be a better line. I would not say this is the best movie regarding AIDS but one of the first that really try to deal with it early on......

This is a well-made film about a brave young lady who, like so many others, battled against the most dangerous disease this planet has probably ever known. Alison Gertz, her friends and family tried to educate young people and still do (although Alison is no longer here). Molly Ringwald (obviously unknown in Slovenia judging by the bottom comment) gives a solid performance whilst Landau and Grant do what's required.

It shows how people can struggle to come to terms with disease and how rationality is thrown out of the window and fear takes over when talking to a person who has contracted HIV/AIDS.

It's a TV movie but one that is worth a look

I have just watched the film for the first time and I have been blown away. As a Gay man I have a huge love for the fight against HIV and AIDS. This film shows exactly what it is like even today with all the teachings about how HIV & AIDS are contracted. You will still find people afraid to shake the hands, use same toilet, drink from the same cup and even giving a hug because they are afraid they will contract the virus. If anyone reading this knows how I can get in touch with Alison Gertz please let me know. If anyone wants information on the HIV and AIDS virus please get in touch. An remember HIV and AIDS is not the gay persons disease which this film has been made to portray as well as the life of Alison.

Since having seem Molly Ringwald in MALICIOUS, i've been trying to catch up with her previous work and even though this has been made for TV in 1992,it is easily available on DVD,a comment which surely can't be said for a lot of made for TV movies.

While the film has been described as non jugemental, the viewer is certainly in his right to judge the character.We're not talking about a church going virgin who got married and slept with her husband who gave her aids but about a girl who slept around with 5 guys and got unlucky so no matter what she says in the film,some people will still come to the conclusion that she deserved it.

I wouldn't call this film astounding.I found it highly uneven.After the first 30 minutes,it was almost like the film could have ended there,just like an afternoon after school special.

The movie,however has some interesting elements and may be worth a look if you have 90 minutes to kill. When the film works,we feel the pain and the nightmare that a person struck with aids feels. i also liked what is shown to be happening in her love life,with the current boyfriend and with another potential boyfriend meeting in a bar.

But after everything is said,this only remains another uneven TV movie.