Alone Together: Young Adults and HIV

Most young people in their twenties look forward to a future of potential, hope, and promise. However, now that AIDS is the leading cause of death among young Americans, there are many who see only a bleak future of debilitating illness and early death. This documentary/interview-style video profiles several HIV-positive young people, all in their early twenties, who face this grim reality daily. They discuss, in strikingly honest detail, the daily task of living life under the shadow of AIDS. The featured young people are male and female, straight and gay, and are from a variety of ethnicities, driving home the reality that "it can happen to anyone." Unfortunately, little in the way of guidance is offered: condoms are briefly mentioned, but resources for young people struggling with HIV are not discussed, and responsible attitudes and actions concerning sexual contact are not conveyed at all. Also, the sound quality was substandard, and many edits of the interviewed people were slightly out of sync, which was distracting. There are better, less expensive choices available, such as Teen Health Video Series: AIDS (VL-9/94) and Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS and You (VL-3/93), the latter selling for $15! Aud: C, P. (E. Gieschen)