Wild Leaves

World AIDS Day began back in 1988, as a way of creating further awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV. Each year since then, on December 1, memorials, speeches and special events have taken place all around the world. With well over 25 million people having succumbed to the virus since 1987, HIV/Aids is officially one of the most destructive epidemics in the history of mankind. Despite increased knowledge, research and medical treatments now being available, no cure has yet been found, and World AIDS Day looks likely to continue as an annual event for the foreseeable future. To celebrate World AIDS Day this year we are showing Wild Leaves, a film of Patti Smith directed by Melodie McDaniel. The song “Wild Leaves” was originally penned by Smith to honor her friend Robert Mapplethorpe, who died from complications arising from AIDS in 1989.