Milk 2008

Using flashbacks from a statement recorded late in life and archival footage for atmosphere, this film traces Harvey Milks career from his 40th birthday to his death. He leaves the closet and New York, opens a camera shop that becomes the salon for San Franciscos growing gay community, and organizes gays purchasing power to build political alliances. He runs for office with lover Scott Smith as his campaign manager. Victory finally comes on the same day Dan White wins in the citys conservative district. The rest of the film sketches Milks relationship with White and the 1978 fight against a statewide initiative to bar gays and their supporters from public school jobs.