Milk: Emile Hirsch, James Franco, Josh Brolin and Gus Van Sant's film we have

Isabelle Hontebeyrie
Published: 29 November 2008 at 10:06 (Last Updated: November 30, 2008 - 8:45)

Milk, director Gus Van Sant, featuring Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna and James Franco.

The film chronicle the last eight years of the life of Harvey Milk, a municipal councilor in San Francisco and one of the first politicians to have spoken openly about his homosexuality. On 27 November 1978, he was assassinated by Dan White, one of his colleagues. Here is the complete file of the film, photos and videos.

Milk is playing in Montreal on 5 December 2008, the rest of Quebec on December 12 and February 2009 in France under the title Harvey Milk.

The scenario

Milk concentrates on the last eight years of the life of Harvey Milk (Sean Penn). The film begins as Milk, who lives in New York, celebrates its 40 years.

Seeking to give meaning to his life, Harvey Milk and his lover, Scott Smith (James Franco) relocate to San Francisco, where they open a business, Castro Camera, in the middle of a working class neighborhood that will soon become a place where all gays in the United States will seek peace.

Energized by this place, Milk surprises Scott by becoming an activist who fights for equal rights and opportunities for all, quickly gathering around him, not just the gay community, but the general population.

With the support of Scott and his new friends, Milk then plunges head first into politics and becoming a mentor to young activists like Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch). It is becoming increasingly popular to the extent that its reputation extends far beyond San Francisco. But his insistence on being elected the cost of his romantic relationship and when starts his fourth campaign, Harvey Milk will not stop with Jack Lira (Diego Luna).

This time is the right and Milk is elected as municipal councilor of the brand new 5th District. It is working immediately to the task, carrying out pressure to pass a municipal ordinance preventing gays to be dismissed because of their sexual orientation and opposing a bill that would build the faculty and fire gays.

At the same time, the objectives of Harvey Milk and another adviser, also newly elected, Dan White (Josh Brolin), diverge more and more.

Gus Van Sant talks about the Castro district

"At the time, Castro was a refuge. Children homosexuals, who had been thrown out of their homes by their parents take them. Of gays from around the world came here. "

"Once Casto neighborhood has become a reference point, a focal point, it was important to have a person who spoke on behalf of all those people. And Harvey Milk was one of those who spoke directly on behalf of the residents of Castro. "

"The witnesses also told me that once an incident occurs, whenever there is something going on in the district, Harvey Milk was there in front, to take care of everything. "

Emile Hirsch talks about Cleve Jones

"When I read the script, I did not know who was Cleve Jones. The only thing I saw of him was that someone was intense. But after diligently attended, I had to find a way to incorporate his sense of humor to my benefit. It is something that has become very important to me. Indeed, I think one reason why Cleve was also effective on the ground comes from his sense of humor. "[...]

"The city of San Francisco is inseparable from Milk. We shot in front of the Capitol, in Castro, etc. The shooting took place in all places of significance in the city. "[...]

"One of the most interesting things about how Gus Van Sant works is the freedom it gives players. They let you know that you can think for yourself, you can bring your own ideas. It does not direct the actors indicating he does not want it done in encouraging us to invent it. I think it is in this context of work that gives players the best of themselves. "

James Franco talks about Scott Smith

"Gus likes to make films about and with people who have shown in different ways. He therefore attended many of the people who lived the events of the day and gave them, or their own role, that of someone else, in Milk. It adds a more realistic film and the emotion. "

"I know Gus for a long time, but this is the first time I have had the opportunity to work with him, especially on a movie as important as this. In addition, it goes without saying that Sean Penn is the hero of every young actor! Working with both of them ... I can not ask for more! "

"Scott Smith was the man in the life of Harvey Milk. After his assassination, it's Scott who took on the legacy and has taken control of all matters related to succession. The second half of his life was devoted to preserving the memory of Harvey. "

Josh Brolin talks about Dan White

"It's a love story, a story of struggle for social rights. Milk is also the story of a man who, as an agent of change in the gay closet, terrified at the idea that we discovered his sexual orientation, made his coming out and turned into an activist, perfectly happy in his life. Even when we listen to his recordings, in which he spoke of his fear of dying assassinated, there is concern and love for others and humanity in general. He loved everybody and fought for all. "

"The fact of not repeating the Dan White, walk where he walked, [...] through the lobby of the town hall, was very disturbing and a little sinister. [...] For against all the inhabitants of the Castro district of San Francisco were delighted that the film was shot on the spot of the tragedy. "

"I received a call, I got the script, I read it and I immediately found exceptional. I cried at the end of my first reading, the story moved me very much. Then, the production team has added excerpts from the documentary, I had never seen. I also watched with my daughter 14 years and we both greatly affected. In my mind, there was no question, I immediately accepted the role. "

Photos of Milk

(click to enlarge)