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| Director: | 
Gus Van Sant |  | 
Writer: | 
Dustin Lance Black |  | 
Starring: | 
Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco, Victor Garber, Eric Stoltz |  | 
Released: | 
January 29, 2009 |  | 
Rating: | 
 
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Runtime: | 
128 minutes
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Websites: | 
 
 
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Story: | 
His life changed history. His courage changed lives.
   
In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the 
first openly gay man to be voted into public office in America. His victory was not just 
a victory for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From 
senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it means 
to be a fighter for human rights and became, before his untimely death in 1978, a hero 
for all Americans. Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk under the direction of Gus Van Sant 
in Milk, filmed on location in San Francisco from an original screenplay by Dustin Lance 
Black, and produced by Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen.
  
Milk charts the last eight years of Harvey Milk's life. While living in New York City, 
he turns 40. Looking for more purpose, Milk and his lover Scott Smith (James Franco) 
relocate to San Francisco, where they found a small business, Castro Camera, in the 
heart of a working-class neighborhood. With his beloved Castro neighborhood and beautiful 
city empowering him, Milk surprises Scott and himself by becoming an outspoken agent for change. 
  
With vitalising support from Scott and from new friends like young activist Cleve Jones 
(Emile Hirsch), Milk plunges headfirst into the choppy waters of politics. Bolstering his 
public profile with humor, Milk's actions speak even louder than his gift-of-gab words. 
  
When Milk is elected supervisor for the newly zoned District 5, he tries to coordinate his 
efforts with those of another newly elected supervisor, Dan White (Josh Brolin). But as 
White and Milk's political agendas increasingly diverge, their personal destinies 
tragically converge. Milk's platform was and is one of hope - a hero's legacy that 
resonates in the here and now. The film's original score is by Danny Elfman. The costume 
designer is Danny Glicker and Elliot Graham edited the film. The production designer is 
Bill Groom and the film's director of photography is Harris Savides, A.S.C.
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Cast: | 
| 
Sean Penn
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Harvey Milk |  | 
Emile Hirsch
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Cleve Jones |  | 
Josh Brolin
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Dan White |  | 
Diego Luna
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Jack Lira |  | 
James Franco
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Scott Smith |  | 
Alison Pill
 | 
Anne Kronenberg |  | 
Victor Garber
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Mayor George Moscone |  | 
Denis O'Hare
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State Senator John Briggs |  | 
Joseph Cross
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Dick Pabich |  | 
Stephen Spinella
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Rick Stokes |  | 
Lucas Grabeel
 | 
Danny Nicoletta |  | 
Brandon Boyce
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Jim Rivaldo |  | 
Howard Rosenman
 | 
David Goodstein |  | 
Kelvin Yu
 | 
Michael Wong |  | 
Jeff Koons
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Art Agnos |  | 
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