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Trailer

Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt

1989Movie1 h 20 min

DocumentaryHistory
89
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.1Rotten Tomatoes100%89%

A deeply moving, melancholic history movie about a real life story and everyday modern life, with standout characters.

Good for friends night · teens · thought-provoking

Skip it if you want something to laugh at

Where to watch

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Not for laughs, adrenaline or scares.

Movies with

Story

On the eve of 1987's Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, surviving families and friends of people who have died of AIDS prepare panels to be added to a large-scale memorial quilt project. Drawing from the sea of names memorialized, director Robert Epstein focuses on the lives of six people. Alongside the intimate profiles offered, through news footage and interviews, Epstein puts the AIDS crisis in the larger context of social and government response to the disease.

Feels like

  • AIDS Crisis Documentary
  • Humanizing Tragedy
  • Political Activism History
  • Intimate Oral Histories
  • Grief and Mourning
  • Social Justice Advocacy
  • Archival Footage Integration
  • Emotional Catharsis
  • Educational Impact
  • Quietly Devastating

Cast

11 of 11

Crew

Directed by
Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
Written by
Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman, Cindy Ruskin
Produced by
Rob Epstein, Bill Couturié, Jeffrey Friedman
Music by
Bobby McFerrin

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

December 1, 1989 · 1 h 20 min · Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language

Released
December 1, 1989
Runtime
1 h 20 min
Content
Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language
Genres
History, Documentary
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
3 countries

Tropes

The Cameo, Death of a Child, Documentary +9

  • The Cameo
  • Death of a Child
  • Documentary
  • Due to the Dead
  • Gray Rain of Depression
  • The Ken Burns Effect
  • Narrator
  • The Nothing After Death
  • Video Credits
  • Time-Passes Montage
  • Talking Heads
  • Stock Footage

12 of 13 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

3 questions, like "Where can I stream Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt?"

Questions about Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt?

KanopyHooplaCriterionKino Film Collection

In the United States, Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt streams on Criterion and Kino Film Collection, and it is free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 2 other countries.

Is Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt worth watching?

89
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 89 (IMDb 8.1 and Rotten Tomatoes 100%). Critics rate it higher (100 out of 100) than audiences (85).

Is Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.