The Times of Harvey Milk - A Sunday Documentary

Human rights work is something that can never stop or be taken for granted. We are all resposible for the well-being of our fellow humans and that the people around us are treated fair and equal. Be that in school, at work or just passing by on the street. Obviously the world is not an ideal place - hence why it's so important to stand up if we see any injustice. Around the world people are denied employment because of sexuality, skin colour and gender to name but a few examples. Regularly we hear about hate crimes and people being killed for being LGBT. Our native Sweden was the first country in the world to remove homosexuality as an illness in 1979 - and as of 2009 has a gender- neutral marriage law. When President Obama last month publicly started endorsing gay-marriage - we know it sends a powerful message around the world about human rights. And the foundation Obama stands on in this issue was built by the man on the poster above - Harvey Milk, the first openly gay to be elected into public office in America. This week's documentary is the Academy Award Winner for Best Documentary Feature in 1984 - 6 years after Harvey was assassinated. The film is a powerful message where we human rights defenders come from. If you haven't watched it we won't give too much away. But it blows our mind watching it thinking that it was made so close in time to the murder. The raw emotions in the interviews are incredibly powerful. Further reading about Dan White can be found here. As always we love to hear your thoughts, so comment or Facebook us! Below is the full documentary! 

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I Am Because We Are - A Sunday Documentary

Last week we presented Paris Is Burning - and the similarities to I Am Because We Are are striking. Living with HIV/AIDS, poverty, homelessness, murder. But also warmth and some happiness amongst all the sadness and trying to take care of each other. The first time we saw I Am Because...we were absolutely shattered afterwards. Simply because we know that it's not unique events that are displayed in the film - cases like this exists all over the world really. Malawi is hit the hardest though as it ranks among the world's most densely populated and least developed countries. Out of a population of 15.4 million, almost one million people in Malawi are living with HIV. AIDS is the leading cause of death amongst adults in Malawi, and is a major factor in the country’s low life expectancy of just 54.2 years.

It's very easy to forget just how privileged we all are if you have had access to sanitation, a safe home environment, health care and education growing up - and just how important that is for your self-worth. We too lost a parent at a very young age, and we know how that sadness tugs at your inner core. We donate time working with a sanitation and safe sex project in India and give money to Amnesty every month - anything to try and be part of the solution. 

This documentary came out in 2008 and is written, produced and narrated by Madonna - one of the world's most recognized. But the events in it are really of concern to us all because the title says it all. I Am Because We Are. The player for some reason states that it's the trailer - but it is in fact the whole film. 

We'd love to hear your thoughts after watching it! Comment below or Facebook us! 

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Florence + The Machine - Breath Of Life - Video Premiere

Florence + The Machine knocks it out of the park with Breath Of Life. We love the juxtaposition of the black & white studio footage with the amazing clips from Snow White and the Huntsman. It makes the interest in the film all that higher. We wanna go see it now! Have a look belooow!

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Paris Is Burning - A Sunday Documentary

Starting today we will show full documentaries on the blog as a Sunday treat. We thought it'd be an awesome experience showcasing ones we love + finding new amazing stuff. Let us know if you have tips!

First up is one of our all time favourites - Jenny Livingston's iconic Paris Is Burning from 1990. Sooo much can be said about this one - we'd need hours talking about it. It stands as an important time capsule regarding equality, gender and social structures. Not to mention showing the end of the golden age of ball culture with its art of voguing and the amazing and intimate portraits of the different families. We wish we could teleport us back in time and visit all of them. Willi Ninja, Angie & Venus Xtravaganza, Octavia St. Laurent... It's simply a must watch! The scenes that gets us every time are the ones with the small kids in Harlem, they are so young and seem so protective of each other. Also, one of the queens who after her death was discovered having had a dead body stuffed in her closet makes for a chilling and insane read. If you wanna watch for the first time, or re-watch the full documentary is below. Let us know your thoughts and memories. Enjoy! Further reading: New York Times 1993 article Paris Has Burned. 

Florence + The Machine - Breath Of Life - Premiere

Florence + The Machine doing the lead track Breath Of Life to Snow White and the Huntsman is the perfect match. Judging by the trailer both are urgent, dark and brooding. Love the use of the choir to add dimension, and the atmosphere just screams blockbuster movie. It's gonna sound perfect in the theaters. 

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