The Battle of amfAR

This enlightening documentary tells the story of two women who used their influence to jump-start research in the early days of the AIDS epidemic. In the 1980s, the public responded to AIDS with a mix of indifference and hysteria. With the death of her friend Rock Hudson, Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor leveraged her celebrity to call for tolerance and compassion. At the same time, Mathilde Krim, a Sloan-Kettering medical researcher and wealthy New York socialite, became interested in AIDS as a medical concern and grew frustrated by the government's failure to take action and by the red tape involved in securing research funding. The two women, who were associated through Krim's husband, Arthur (the head of United Artists), joined forces to found amfAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research. Their efforts helped change the perception of the disease and pave the way for remarkable advances in treatment. The film includes a wealth of archival footage, contemporary interviews with the principal players (including Krim), and clear explanations of the science behind the research.