NO SAD SONGS
1985 - CANADA - COLOUR - 60 MINUTES
A FILM BY NIK SHEEHAN
The first Canadian film on the subject of AIDS. In 1985-86 it was featured in festivals and theatres around the world. "No Sad Songs" attracted much critical attention for its sardonic dramatic performances which are interwoven throughout the documentary footage. The film centres on Jim Black, 37, and his views on the premature death in store for him. Catherine Hunt, who has a brother in the U.S. with the illness, speaks with remarkable emotion of the values such a crisis brings out in families and friends.
An important film to document the Toronto gay community as the AIDS tide was sweeping over it, "No Sad Songs" reaches to understand a little bit about death. Despite its sad subject matter, however, the film has considerable humour and warmth. As it deals with the moral and emotional side of AIDS, as opposed to the medical, the film remains highly relevant. "No Sad Songs" was co-produced by the AIDS Committee of Toronto and is narrated by Kate Reid.