Call Me Kuchu

Simultaneously heartbreaking and boldly optimistic, Call Me Kuchu stands with After Stonewall and The Times of Harvey Milk as a milestone in the history of gay-themed documentaries. Co-directed by Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali-Worrall, the film focuses on veteran activist David Kato—the first openly gay man in Uganda—as he struggles to repeal the homophobic laws and policies that force Uganda's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender men and women (known collectively as “kuchus”) into hiding. Kato's latest challenge takes the form of a new “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” that proposes the death sentence for HIV-positive gay men and prison for anyone who shelters or fails to turn in a known homosexual. Adding fuel to this already dangerous fire is the abhorrent homophobia spread by Uganda's newspapers, which begin “outing” kuchus with impunity, publishing photos of LGBT citizens and calling for their execution. In Kato's eyes we see the gentle certainty of a man committed to his cause and beloved for his bravery, and it is absolutely gut-wrenching when he is murdered during the making of this film. From the hateful paranoia of a leading newspaper editor to the historic United Nations hearings on the matter of Uganda's homophobic government, Call Me Kuchu covers a lot of personal and sociopolitical territory, incorporating news footage (including clips from MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show) with interviews of gay and lesbian Ugandans who are fighting for their liberation and continuing Kato's struggle in his honor. Extras include deleted scenes. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Shannon)