August Without Him
dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda · 1994
Being alive means confronting the realities of our existence, including the struggles and vulnerabilities that come with it.
"August Without Him" is a poignant exploration of the human experience, juxtaposing the public bravery of Hirata Yukata with the profound isolation of his private struggle against HIV. Through Kore-eda's intimate lens, the film invites viewers to confront the stigmas of illness and sexuality in a deeply empathetic way.
Hirata Yukata became the first man in Japan to publicly acknowledge that he had contracted HIV through gay sex. Filmed over a series of months, the documentary contrasts his public life as an outspoken figure on the lecture circuit with his personal descent into illness and death.
