Jamie Dispirito | Thrive / 2019

an unnamed virus

by Douglas Messerli

 

Jamie Dispirito (screenwriter and director) Thrive / 2019 [17 minutes]

 

British director Jamie Dispirito’s Thrive is another post-AIDS film, which discusses the continued devastation of lives, even though medications are available to help keep the HIV-positive person from developing AIDS and from spreading it to others. We encounter young student at the center of this film, Joe (Taofique Folarin), in his apartment early one morning as he drinks his morning coffee, takes his meds, and hooks up with someone on his cellphone for sex.

    The handsome Alex (Ben Aldridge) arrives soon after and proceeds to fuck him, as the two climax it what seems like perfect sex. Alex suggests they go to breakfast, but when Joe demurs, he suggests they just go for a coffee. But Joe makes up an excuse, and Alex realizes that the meetup is over and begins to dress.

    Before he goes, however, he admits that he’s seen Joe’s meds in the bathroom, and realizes that he’s HIV positive. Joe is a bit taken aback, but assures him he’s “undetectable,” which means he’s not infectious. He admits he found out two months ago, but hasn’t yet been able to tell anyone yet.

      Alex seems to understand, realizing that he’s afraid of rejection. Joe tells him about his previous relationship with the man who probably gave him the virus, but who’s still negative.

      Surprising, Alex admits that he too was infected—11 year ago—by someone who remains negative. And the two, for a moment bond, in their dilemmas. And yes, at first Alex also received a great many rejections from friends and possible lovers. But now he wishes that they didn’t even name the virus as AIDS, or being HIV-positive.

     He explains how a doctor might actually say, you have a virus which has no name. And in order to keep the virus at bay and to protect yourself from spreading it you’ll have to take a pill daily for the rest of your life. It would so much easier, without the stigma of the horrific epidemic, the fear rejection by others, and the concept of death hovering over one’s future.

      Alex leaves.

     And for a moment, partially in relief, but also in a flood of pent-up sorrow, the now alone Joe breaks down in tears. But finally, he realizes that Alex, almost like an angel, has brought a message of great hope, of the possibility of thriving in life instead of just surviving. He quickly dresses, and races downstairs. The camera from the viewpoint of his room high up in the apartment building looks down in a crane shot of the two men meeting and obviously heading off together for that proffered breakfast. Perhaps they can continue to find solace in one another’s company and love.

Los Angeles, December 14, 2024

Reprinted from My Queer Cinema blog (December 2024).