Intensely entertaining, wonderfully revealing
John Frame | Brisbane, Queensland Australia | 01/27/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My first awareness of the art of Keith Haring was in the 1986 video for the Grace Jones song "I'm Not Perfect". In stop action we witness Keith creating a perfect huge circular mural on the blank fabric of Grace's dress. We don't see that particular piece in "The Universe of Keith Haring", but we do get an amazing detailed insight into the creative and personal life of a true genius. For Keith the personal was certainly political - his honesty regarding his homosexuality was integral to his work. Lives have been saved (from HIV and homophobia) and the world made a better place because of this.
We learn that Keith was a basically nice guy, but he was determined to fully enjoy his life day by day. He didn't give a tinker's cuss for whoever might already have romantic links to the object of his desire.
"The Universe Of Keith Haring" screened at the Brisbane Queer Film Festival 2008 and I was immediately convinced by the Spanish subtitled preview DVD that this is a film that I had to own (with subtitles only as an option). This film ranks among top ten LGBT/Queer documentaries. For others it will rate highly purely for the revelation of Keith's unique aristic vision, his skills, his extraordinary productivity - and his globally significant legacy.
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