NYFF Review: ‘BPM’

Robin Campillo’s sobering BPM focuses on the AIDS epidemic in the early 90s set in France, focusing on a group of HIV/AIDS activists known as ACT UP. Our introduction to ACT UP comes through Nathan (Arnaud Valois) who attends his first meeting and is overwhelmed by the intensity and focus that occurs in the French chapter meeting. They’re tired of the government’s failure to step up and held them as their members are in dire need of assistance, literally getting sick and dying as they wait for them.

Naturally, there are some disagreements in ideology and how they should get these ideas across in protests and members but heads on conflicting ideas or philosophy. Things only get complicated as many of its members develop close relationships that only make matters that much more complicated. Nathan falls for strong-willed fellow members Sean (Nahuel Pérez Biscayart) who is passionate for change. Not only is it everything that he stands for and believes in but because he is very sick and his time is slowly running out. Nathan doesn’t always agree with Sean’s ideas but he is obviously conflicted as he cares for him and doesn’t want to see his lover die.

Just like Nathan we slowly acclimate ourselves into this world, overwhelmed by their tactics and meetings at first but with every new one, we find ourselves getting on the same page and find ourselves caring a great deal about these characters. It would be naive to say we hope for a happy ending here but it’s a part of the strong script that Campillo wrote alongside Philippe Mangeot that has us desperate for all of these members to get along with one another but to survive so they can keep fighting for not only the cause but for their relationships.

From top to bottom there are strong performances from this French cast of many presumably unfamiliar faces to general American audiences. In a way, this helps give the film a more realistic down to earth approach that feels slightly more like a documentary than a feature film, immersing the audience even more so into this heartbreaking uphill battle for survival and justice.

That’s not to discredit these performances in any way, quite the opposite. Nahuel Pérez Biscayart offers up one of the most powerful performances seen on screen this year as Sean and he is equally matched by a more strong, stoic presence of Arnaud Valois as Nathan.

It’s a drama in every sense of the word, giving a cold but necessary look at what these activists and HIV/AIDS victims had to endure to try and keep motivated to keep fighting for not only their lives but for the cause that was larger than just them. You’ll be hard pressed to find a dry eye in the theater once the credits come rolling, proof positive that Campillo’s film hits deep into the core and captures a sense of humanity that is within us all. This is a truly heartbreaking story and one that breaches many walls and themes that are perfectly relevant and timely even in today’s world.

Rating: 8.0/10