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Fig Trees

Fig Trees

2009 1h 40mDocumentaryMusic

FIG TREES is a documentary opera about AIDS activists Tim McCaskell of Toronto and Zackie Achmat of Capetown as they fight for access to treatment drugs. Documentary interviews, speeches, press conferences and demonstrations are sampled, taken apart, and set to music, replayed this time as operatic scenes. A surreal fictional narrative is intercut with the stories of their struggles against government and the pharmaceutical industry. In this fictional world, Gertrude Stein decides to write a tragic opera about Tim and Zackie and their saint-like heroism. She kidnaps them, transports them to Niagara Falls, and forces them to sing a series of complicated avant-garde vocal compositions. However, when Zackie ends his treatment strike and starts taking his pills, Gertrude realizes that there will be no more tragedy, and thus, no more opera.

2.5/5

TMDB score· 2 votes

Trailer

Synopsis

FIG TREES is a documentary opera about AIDS activists Tim McCaskell of Toronto and Zackie Achmat of Capetown as they fight for access to treatment drugs. Documentary interviews, speeches, press conferences and demonstrations are sampled, taken apart, and set to music, replayed this time as operatic scenes. A surreal fictional narrative is intercut with the stories of their struggles against government and the pharmaceutical industry. In this fictional world, Gertrude Stein decides to write a tragic opera about Tim and Zackie and their saint-like heroism. She kidnaps them, transports them to Niagara Falls, and forces them to sing a series of complicated avant-garde vocal compositions. However, when Zackie ends his treatment strike and starts taking his pills, Gertrude realizes that there will be no more tragedy, and thus, no more opera.

Behind it

John GreysonJohn GreysonDirector

Cast

Van AbrahamsChristopher Moraka
Zackie AchmatChristopher Moraka
Stephen ChenSaint Caesura
Ezra PerlmanSt. Martin
Ashton WilliamsNkosi Johnson
Denise WilliamsSt. Teresa of Avila
David WallTim McCaskell
Deborah OveresGertrude Stein
Mark HartmeierSt. Peregrine
Justin BacchusChristopher Moraka
Stephen McClareTranslator
Jennifer MooreThabo/Manto/Rat

Director

John Greyson

Release date

9 Feb 2009

Runtime

1h 40m

Language

English

Country

Canada

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