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Fig Trees poster

Fig Trees (2009)

Overview

FIG TREES is a documentary opera about AIDS activists Tim McCaskell of Toronto and Zackie Achmat of Capetown as they fight for access to treatment drugs. Documentary interviews, speeches, press conferences and demonstrations are sampled, taken apart, and set to music, replayed this time as operatic scenes. A surreal fictional narrative is intercut with the stories of their struggles against government and the pharmaceutical industry. In this fictional world, Gertrude Stein decides to write a tragic opera about Tim and Zackie and their saint-like heroism. She kidnaps them, transports them to Niagara Falls, and forces them to sing a series of complicated avant-garde vocal compositions. However, when Zackie ends his treatment strike and starts taking his pills, Gertrude realizes that there will be no more tragedy, and thus, no more opera.
50%
John Greyson profile
John Greyson

Director

Cast

Van Abrahams profile
Van Abrahams

Christopher Moraka

Zackie Achmat profile
Zackie Achmat

Christopher Moraka

Stephen Chen profile
Stephen Chen

Saint Caesura

Ezra Perlman profile
Ezra Perlman

St. Martin

Ashton Williams profile
Ashton Williams

Nkosi Johnson

Denise Williams profile
Denise Williams

St. Teresa of Avila

David Wall profile
David Wall

Tim McCaskell

Deborah Overes profile
Deborah Overes

Gertrude Stein

Mark Hartmeier profile
Mark Hartmeier

St. Peregrine

Justin Bacchus profile
Justin Bacchus

Christopher Moraka

Stephen McClare profile
Stephen McClare

Translator

Jennifer Moore profile
Jennifer Moore

Thabo/Manto/Rat

Van Abrahams profile
Van Abrahams

Christopher Moraka

Zackie Achmat profile
Zackie Achmat

Christopher Moraka

Stephen Chen profile
Stephen Chen

Saint Caesura

Ezra Perlman profile
Ezra Perlman

St. Martin

Ashton Williams profile
Ashton Williams

Nkosi Johnson

Denise Williams profile
Denise Williams

St. Teresa of Avila

David Wall profile
David Wall

Tim McCaskell

Deborah Overes profile
Deborah Overes

Gertrude Stein

Mark Hartmeier profile
Mark Hartmeier

St. Peregrine

Justin Bacchus profile
Justin Bacchus

Christopher Moraka

Stephen McClare profile
Stephen McClare

Translator

Jennifer Moore profile
Jennifer Moore

Thabo/Manto/Rat

Extra

Release Date

February 9, 2009

Original Language

English

Budget

$0.00

Production Company

Available On

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You can visit JustWatch for more information.

Videos

4 Throats from John Greyson's Fig Trees thumbnail
4 Throats from John Greyson's Fig Trees

Images

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