Educational Media Reviews Online

Still Around is a collection of short films in which fifteen individuals from diverse walks of life express their personal experiences of living with HIV/AIDS. Each of the corresponding fifteen short films is four to five minutes in duration. The compilation consists of mixed cinematic forms including documentary style monologues, spoken word poetry, and abstract dance, some of which are artistic and others informative. In order to minimize the contrast between varying styles, visuals such as photography and print headlines are used to maintain a unified context throughout the compilation. Mixed cinematic styles allow a broader spectrum of human emotion to be captured as subjects reveal their experiences of coming to terms, finding inspiration to carry on, and even developing peculiar grace when coping with tragedy.

In addition to the complex and emotionally charged subject matter, the compilation provides a seamless connection between the past and present with regards to the social effects inflicted by the epidemic. During a time when HIV/AIDS is largely perceived as a crisis that has come to pass, it is vital not to lose sight of the fact that the it remains a costly burden to the individuals affected as well as society as a whole.

Still Around provides a comprehensive sample of the ever changing faces and consequences of an ongoing epidemic. The compilation is recommended as an addition to general collections and as a learning/teaching tool for social science and humanities courses.