Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt

1989 1h 20m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 19

HistoryDocumentary

Synopsis

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On the eve of 1987's Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, surviving families and friends of people who have died of AIDS prepare panels to be added to a large-scale memorial quilt project. Drawing from the sea of names memorialized, director Robert Epstein focuses on the lives of six people. Alongside the intimate profiles offered, through news footage and interviews, Epstein puts the AIDS crisis in the larger context of social and government response to the disease.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Dustin Hoffman
Narrator (voice)
Sara Lewinstein
Storyteller (Story Subject: Dr. Tom Waddell)
David Mandell
Storyteller (Story Subject: David Mandell Jr.)
Suzi Mandell
Storyteller (Story Subject: David Mandell Jr.)
Sallie Perryman
Storyteller (Story Subject: Robert Perryman)
Vito Russo
Storyteller (Story Subject: Jeffrey Sevcik)
Tracy Torrey
Storyteller (Story Subject: Self and David C. Campbell)
Gregg Baker
Self - News Reporter (archive footage)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jeffrey Friedman
Writers: Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman, Cindy Ruskin
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

80 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

37 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jeffrey Friedman, shot by Dyanna Taylor. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Bobby McFerrin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Rob Epstein shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

AWARDS

Did you know

Dustin Hoffman and Sara Lewinstein and David Mandell carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0097099 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 19 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jeffrey Friedman directs. Dyanna Taylor behind the camera. Bobby McFerrin scores. Rob Epstein cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

180 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
237 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Jeffrey Friedman, shot by Dyanna Taylor. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Bobby McFerrin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Rob Epstein shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Dustin Hoffman and Sara Lewinstein and David Mandell carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0097099 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 19 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.