Life Support

A very good film showing the life of a former drug user who works for an outreach program for women with HIV.

Queen Latifah, a very fine actress, is well suited for the part of Annie.

What makes this film so good is that there is little violence. All the characters give meaning to this very endearing film.

Latifah is especially effective in her sessions with other women. There are marvelous supporting performances by the daughter she gave up to her mother. The latter is also quite good.

This is a very compelling story detailing the black experience with regard to home life and personal identifications and self-esteem.

The Brooklyn locations are a joy to see.

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 !!

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!

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")

The subject matter of Life Support is heavy, so be prepared when you rent it. It focuses on an HIV support group with a handful of women trying to find hope within a terrible diagnosis. Queen Latifah stars as a woman who contracted the illness through drug use with her husband, Wendell Pierce. Years earlier, her addiction led to the custody loss of her daughter. Now a teenager with frustrations of her own, Rachel Nicks lives with her grandmother but can't seem to make peace with her mother's attempted involvement in her life. Her best friend, Evan Ross, has HIV and doesn't care about taking care of himself. I see no reason why this movie had to be a tv-movie. It felt like a theatrical production, the acting was top-notch, and the story was far more moving and interesting than The Dallas Buyers Club. I read a quote from Stanislavski about acting, that it should be about speaking softly and thinking loudly. Queen Latifah completely embodies that quote, as during every spoken line several other thoughts come across in her expression. From her first scene, as she doles out her morning array of pills and swallows them in silence, to her last silent closeup, she's constantly telling the audience what she's feeling but not saying. If you've only seen Queen Latifah in musicals, pick out one of her heavy movies, like Life Support, Bessie, or Mama Flora's Family. You won't be disappointed by her talent. This movie carries a powerful message, and it's both dramatic and educational. In some scenes, we see a woman moving on with her life; in others, we see a boy throwing his away. During the support group sessions, we hear different perspectives of women who have HIV. Some are afraid to tell people, some are still searching for love, some are angry at themselves. This is a very emotional drama that deals with family connections, regrets, and mistakes that can't be unmade.

DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. The support group sessions are filmed with a handheld camera and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"