Zero Patience (1993)

The ghost of Zero - "patient zero", who allegedly first brought aids to Canada - materialises and tries to contact old friends. Meanwhile, the Victorian explorer Sir Richard Burton, who ... See full summary »

Director:

John Greyson

Writer:

John Greyson

Stars:

John Robinson, Normand Fauteux, Dianne Heatherington

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Robinson	...	Sir Richard Burton
Normand Fauteux	...	Zero
Dianne Heatherington	...	Mary
Richardo Keens-Douglas	...	George
Bernard Behrens	...	Dr. Placebo
Charlotte Boisjoli	...	Maman
Brenda Kamino	...	Dr. Cheng
Michael Callen	...	Miss HIV
Marla Lukofsky	...	African Green Monkey
Von Flores	...	Ray
Scott Hurst	...	Michael
Duncan McIntosh	...	Ross
Cassel Miles	...	Barry
Benjamin Plener	...	Ted
Ann Medina

Storyline

The ghost of Zero - "patient zero", who allegedly first brought aids to Canada - materialises and tries to contact old friends. Meanwhile, the Victorian explorer Sir Richard Burton, who drank from the Fountain of Youth and now works as Chief Taxidermist at the Toronto Natural history Museum, is trying to organise an Aids Exhibition ...

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Plot Keywords:

aids | gay interest | gay | gay lead character | queer cinema | 

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Genres:

Musical

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Details

Country:

UK Canada

Language:

English French

Release Date:

5 August 1994 (UK)

Also Known As:

Paciente Zero

Filming Locations:

City Hall, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Gross:

$217,300 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zero Patience Productions, Téléfilm Canada, Ontario Film Development Corporation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in La nouvelle Ève (1999)

User Reviews

Exotic Fruit

One of those totally surprising contributions that remind us that there are still film-makers with talent and originality out there.

This Canadian film is hard to classify - it's costume drama, romance, Broadway musical, ghost story, mocumentary, educational film, puppet show, and political soap-box all at the same time.

It tells the story of the noted Victorian sexologist Richard Francis Burton (still alive after an unfortunate encounter with the fountain of youth) and Patient Zero, the man who, according to the media beat-up, brought AIDS to North America. After three years dead, Zero returns (not quite to life) to clear his name, but the only person who can see him is Burton, who wants to use his story as the centre-piece of his banal 'Hall of Contagion' exhibition.

Nineteenth century attitudes collide with twentieth century morality. Things get really sticky when the local AIDS activists weigh into the argument ...

Gorgeous original score, singing bottoms, dancing (stuffed) animals, talking viruses, synchronised swimming, a chorus of naked men, taxidermy! - there's something in this film for everyone.

Funny, bizarre, devastatingly sad - this three-tune-musical-on-film has got everything, though not everyone will cope with the grown-up content and highly theatrical treatment.

Exotic fruit indeed: witty, subtle, and not-so-subtle, with lots to think about - well worth seeing, and not only as a rare example of how to make a musical work on film.