The
Normal Heart is a HBO movie. The trailer can particularly capture the attention
of the LGBT community because it is about the struggle of gay men led by Ned
Weeks played by Mark Ruffalo in the 1980s at the city of New York as they fight
for awareness of a nameless disease which is known now as AIDS caused by HIV.
The movie is directed by Ryan Murphy and based on the play written by Larry
Kramer which is the right combination to keep a person in anticipation.
In
the movie, Dr. Emma Brookner played by Julia Roberts called gay activist Ned
Weeks to inform the gay community and eventually the government that there was
a type of cancer that only infected gays and it was easily labelled as gay
cancer. So Weeks started it in the best way he could do. He started with his
friends. It was not an easy task because telling them this type of cancer,
aside from it was still unconfirmed and without official research, this would entail
prevention of the spreading of the disease by having to stop sex. The thought
of abstinence among the gay men could not be embraced by them because they felt
taking away from them to express their love was like snatching from them the
only right they only held.
One
of the steps taken by Weeks to inform the public about gay cancer was meeting
Felix Turner immortalized by Matt Bomer who was a closeted gay and New York
Times writer/ reporter. This wasn’t the first time they met each other but
Weeks couldn’t remember their first rendezvous. It was only Turner who could
remember it. The two were obviously attracted to each other. They fell in love,
made plans together and eventually lived together. Unfortunately, throughout
the movie Turner got infected by the disease but they stayed together. Turner’s
body was getting worst but he was able to heal relationship of his partner’s
relationship with his brother which was tainted at that time.
As
one by one of their colleagues died including Turner, the New York gay
community acknowledged and accepted that there must have been done about the
illness. After having to fight tooth and nail, Weeks and the rest of the
advocates were successful to catch the attention of the government to allot
budget for the study and research on this gay cancer.
This
masterpiece should not be only watched by every gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender but all of us, regardless of gender orientation/ preference, must
enjoy this flick because it talked about the universal language that every
human has spoken and understood. And that language is love.
It
conveyed brotherly kind of love which considers the welfare of others. Thru the
initiative of Dr. Brookner and fast acceptance of Weeks to awaken the
consciousness of others about the life threatening disease, they took the first
steps to stop infecting others and spreading it.
The
movie also shows the truth about how romantic love must be. Weeks and Turner
stayed true to their promises of love which unconditional. They love each without
inhibitions and qualms. They remained on each other arms up to last breath.
Lastly,
the normal heart touched the subject about love for oneself. Loving oneself
first is essential to be able to love others. One must be healed and got over
of his/her personal scars, accepted all his/her imperfection and maximized
his/her strengths and potentials.
If
the world would only speak the universal language, there would be no
misunderstanding that leads to doubt and confusion. If each person comprehends
one language, no discrimination and prejudice would happen. And if love could
just rule the world, then this world is a better place to live in because each
possesses normal heart.
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