Milk Discussion Guide

Javaflix 3.14.08        MILK Discussion Guide

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

What did you think? How did it make you feel?

What were the most important scenes? What were the hardest parts to watch?

What was the most hopeful/encouraging? 

HARVEY MILK 

How much did you know about Harvey Milk before this film?

What did you think of Harvey?

How do you feel the film presented him?

We get a sense of Harvey Milk the gay activist, but we don’t (at least I didn’t) get any sense of Harvey Milk the human being. “ Critic.

Agree or disagree with the above quote?

Would it have worked better if Harvey was presented with more flaws?

“40yrs old and i havent dont a thing im proud of.”

Can you identify with this quote? 

“Harvey is the same at the beginning as at the end, and this is a problem for Milk the film, because we experience such narratives as myths rather than histories.” Critic

Agree of Disagree with above quote? 

DAN WHITE

Why did Dan White do what he did? 

“makes himself a target for someone who is insecure and disturbed themselves” - harvey 

Dan White said that he felt threatened, too. What do you think was most threatening to him? 
 

ACTIVISM 

What do you stand for? How important is it to stand for something? 

The tension between those who feel power is best attained by working patiently within the system versus those who believe groups should demand their place at the table is an age-old one. Has one technique been more successful in the struggle for civil rights than the other? What has been your personal experience with these two strategies? 

What is the risk involved in fighting for what you believe is right? 

He felt that knowing someone who is gay or lesbian would make all the difference in transforming our culture into a more welcoming one. Do you think that is true? 

“we have to make the 90% care about the 10%” Harvey 

Did you agree with Harveys beliefs in everyone “outing” themselves? 

Why do you think this peaked the interest of the christian community so much? 

Was Harvey’s death a result of homophobia? Was it a factor?


Why was Harvey Killed? How was his death used for good?

Do you think Harvey is a martyr. Is that accurate? Would is the benefit of martyrdom? 

HOPE 

Without hope, not only gays, but those who are blacks, the Asians, the disabled, the seniors, the usses; without hope the usses give up," says Milk. "I know that you can't live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living." 

How do you feel about gay rights aligning itself with other rights issues – people of color, women, etc.? Is it appropriate? 

Did this story remind you at all of Barack Obama? (it did me) 

Why is hope so powerful? 

Can hope be dangerous? 

“i know you cant live on hope alone but without hope, life is not worth living.” – Harvey 

What is needed in addition to hope? 

How did knowing from the beginning that he was going to be assassinated change how you felt throughout the movie? 

Was Harvey’s death a result of homophobia? Was it a factor?


Why was Harvey Killed? How was his death used for good?


Do you think the method of opening the film with him talking about “assassination” worked for framing the film? 

DISCRIMINATION


Why does discrimination happen? Why does it hurt? 

What is the proper response to discrimination? 

Would anyone be interested in sharing experiences they have had of being discriminated against? How did it make you feel? What did you do?

How does fear play a role in judging/discrimination? 

“You are not sick, you are not wrong and god does not hate you.” - Harvey 

What does it feel like to be an outcast? 

“it will no doubt convince everyone who already believes that gays should be afforded full protection under the law to pursue happiness that they are right to have that conviction. But it fails to personalize the issue. Those who don’t know a gay person before the movie still won’t know one after.” Critic

(in reference to above quote) Does the film more or less preach to the choir or do you think it would have an affect on someone who had an opposing view? Did it change any of your own views?