Zero Patience

Zero Patience is a musical comedy about AIDS. Yet this wonderful film by Canadian indie-film making god, John Greyson, is more than it seems; Zero Patience tackles such subjects as homophobia, AIDS, the life of Sir Richard Francis Burton, and the ignorance that still exists about how AIDS came, and spread, through North America-- all wrapped up in a good old fashioned love story of boy meets boy. Instead of being preachy and dictating, Greyson captures the beauty of life, death and love, while expressing a powerful social message. All in a musical format which is all too often overlooked in the 90's, and brings back the movie-musical era of the 40's. It's funky soundtrack and colorful cast will entertain viewers from the opening credits. Zero Patience is quite possibly the most outrageous and original movie you will ever see.

I was introduced to this film (yes, FILM) by a professor of film at Texas A&M University. I know, most would think that those two clash: a queer film at one of the most conservative "schools" in the country, but she's a lesbian.

The music still entertains me, and "Just Like Scheherazade" is such a touching song.

As a gay man with AIDS, this film is radical, emphatically hilarious and exudes the attitude that those with this disease need to embrace. Don't sit around waiting to die...laugh at yourself. And make a musical!

Anywho. Word is that "Zero Patience" will FINALLY be released in the U.S. on May 31, 2005! It will have two music tracks and a bonus music video.

VideoETA informed me that it would be May 17, but both TLA Video and Amazon claim the 31st. Either way, it's coming, and about time, too!

The most extraordinary thing about this film to me is that during a Gay Pride day in Toronto, I met some people that I knew and mentioned to them that I had seen them in Zero Patience. I then began to sing the praises of this film, and a moment later, they introduced me to the friend who was with them. His name was John Greyson, and he was the director of the film I had just raved on about! Well, he certainly knew I wasn't just being polite! :0) I gave this film an 8 out of ten, first of all because of the fact that anyone who can make a musical comedy about AIDS right in the middle of the epidemic and pull it off has got balls. Secondly, he did it with an outrageous satire that spares no-one, from the devious doctors to the exploitative politicians, and even takes on Act Up members with aplomb. Some people have said bad things about the musical numbers; I found them to be full of surprise, inventiveness, humour and camp - not to mention a touch of whimsy and pathos. This film has so much packed into it that it almost defies definition. But all in all it works. Finally, although the tone is continually exaggerated, the actor playing Patient Zero managed to flesh out his character to the point where we could relate to a "real" person. And boy, is he sexy! So, I ask you, what is there not to like?

One of those totally surprising contributions that remind us that there are still film-makers with talent and originality out there.

This Canadian film is hard to classify - it's costume drama, romance, Broadway musical, ghost story, mocumentary, educational film, puppet show, and political soap-box all at the same time.

It tells the story of the noted Victorian sexologist Richard Francis Burton (still alive after an unfortunate encounter with the fountain of youth) and Patient Zero, the man who, according to the media beat-up, brought AIDS to North America. After three years dead, Zero returns (not quite to life) to clear his name, but the only person who can see him is Burton, who wants to use his story as the centre-piece of his banal 'Hall of Contagion' exhibition.

Nineteenth century attitudes collide with twentieth century morality. Things get really sticky when the local AIDS activists weigh into the argument ...

Gorgeous original score, singing bottoms, dancing (stuffed) animals, talking viruses, synchronised swimming, a chorus of naked men, taxidermy! - there's something in this film for everyone.

Funny, bizarre, devastatingly sad - this three-tune-musical-on-film has got everything, though not everyone will cope with the grown-up content and highly theatrical treatment.

Exotic fruit indeed: witty, subtle, and not-so-subtle, with lots to think about - well worth seeing, and not only as a rare example of how to make a musical work on film.

I saw this film last year and was struck by it's power. The movie relates the story of patient "Zero" - the first known carrier of the AIDS virus - who appears throughout the course of the film as a ghost. It's a moving, surreal film.