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(Jewish Group) The AIDS crisis strained his relationship with Judaism. Now, it's integral to his art
The AIDS crisis strained his relationship with Judaism. Now, it’s integral to his art — and activism.In 1993, artist and activist Gregg Bordowitz premiered his film “Fast Trip, Long Drop,” a not-quite documentary that made for a biting critique of media coverage of the AIDS crisis.
The film, in which Bordowitz plays a defiant talk show guest named Alter Allesman — Yiddish for “old everyman” — was shown widely at LGBTQ and Jewish film festivals. After one showing at KlezCamp, a now-defunct Klezmer music and Yiddish festival, an attendee stood and asked Bordowiz a question.
“Why did you bring this here?” he asked. “Is this a good thing for the Jews?”
Bordowitz, now 57, says audience members continue to ask that question about the film — still his most famous work — at nearly every Jewish festival screening.
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