We Were Here

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We Were Here

2011

1h 30m

Documentary

Biography

History

Drama

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

During the 1970s, San Francisco became a safe haven for the gay and lesbian community, providing a place where one could live openly, away from discrimination. But, after almost a decade of celebration, the city was hit by a wave of shock and grief when it became ground zero of the AIDS epidemic, with hundreds of gay men falling victim to the disease. Director David Weissman explores the incredible story of love and loss through the eyes of five men and women who experienced it firsthand.

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Critics Consensus

We Were Here revisits the crises facing the gay community in the early 1980s -- and offers a powerful tribute to the inspiring resolve shown at a time of turmoil.

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Monica Castillo

Bitch Media

05/10/2016

We Were Here does not move behind the scope of San Francisco, which I considered a benefit. It allows the viewer to fully immerse themselves in the story.

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London Evening Standard

11/25/2011

4/5

Weissman documents the ingenuity, generosity and optimism of a community that fell victim to a horrible disease that, with astonishing speed, turned the world inside out.

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Andrew Pulver

Guardian

11/25/2011

3/5

Even if, understandably, it's a little inward-looking (the ongoing disaster in Africa gets barely a mention), as a slice of social history, We Were Here takes an invigoratingly positive position on a very gloomy time.

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Steve Cruz

OUT FRONT Magazine (Denver)

05/09/2023

This documentary illuminates the profound personal and community issues raised by the AIDS epidemic as well as the broad political and social upheavals it unleashed.

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David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

06/10/2020

The best film effort to date that can unite the generations until there's a cure

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Ellin Stein

The Arts Desk

05/27/2020

This powerful, affecting film should help ensure that by remembering the past we will not be condemned to repeat it.

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Tim G

@tmgreene22 12/28/2017

Beautiful, both so incredibly sad and inspiring.

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01/24/2017

Heartfelt and horrific, this documentary offers a glimpse into the AIDS epidemic (over 15,000 killed) of the early 80s in San Francisco. It's an overwhelmingly sad piece of history, but the first-hand stories are a reminder of how important a strong and brave community can be in the face of terror.

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02/24/2015

Moving, heartfelt documentary that reflects on first hand accounts of the early days of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco. This is an important piece of history that should never be forgotten and should be viewed for generations to come.

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02/17/2015

Survivors of the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis tell their stories of survival. With a new more aggressive form of HIV spreading in Cuba, stories we can't afford to forget. CDW

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02/07/2015

Moral of the story? Politicians never get things right. Ever!

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10/08/2014

A moving portrait of five survivors of the devastation that was caused by AIDS in (mainly) the eighties and nineties in San Francisco. Recommended!

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David Weissman

Director

Bill Weber

Director

Paul Boneberg

Actor

Ed Wolf

Actor

Daniel Goldstein

Actor

Guy Clark

Actor

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Synopsis

During the 1970s, San Francisco became a safe haven for the gay and lesbian community, providing a place where one could live openly, away from discrimination. But, after almost a decade of celebration, the city was hit by a wave of shock and grief when it became ground zero of the AIDS epidemic, with hundreds of gay men falling victim to the disease. Director David Weissman explores the incredible story of love and loss through the eyes of five men and women who experienced it firsthand.

Director: David Weissman, Bill Weber
Producer: David Weissman
Distributor: Red Flag Releasing
Production Co: Weissman Projects
Genre: Documentary, Biography, History, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 9, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2017
Runtime: 1h 30m