Directed by:
Gus Van SantCinematography:
Harris SavidesComposer:
Danny ElfmanCast:
Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, Kelvin Yu, Denis O'Hare, Lucas Grabeel, Alison Pill, Victor Garber, Joseph Cross (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
Gay Rights Activist. Friend. Lover. Unifier. Politician. Fighter. Icon. Inspiration. Hero. His life changed history, and 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 major 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. Academy Award winner Sean Penn stars as Harvey Milk under the direction of Academy Award nominee Gus Van Sant in the new movie filmed on location in San Francisco from an original screenplay by Dustin Lance Black and produced by Academy Award winners Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen. The film 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 that was soon to become a haven for gay people from around the country. With his beloved Castro neighborhood and beautiful city empowering him, Milk surprises Scott and himself by becoming an outspoken agent for change. He seeks equal rights and opportunities for all, and his great love for the city and its people brings him backing from young and old, straight and gay, alike – at a time when prejudice and violence against gays was openly accepted as the norm. With vitalizing support from Scott and new friends and volunteers, Milk plunges headfirst into the choppy waters of politics. He also mentors young street activists like Cleve Jones (Emile Hirsch). Bolstering his public profile with humor, Milk’s actions speak even louder than his gift-of-gab words. Soon, he is known all across the city and even beyond, but his persistent determination to be a part of city government drives him and Scott apart. While making his fourth run for public office, Milk takes a new lover, Jack Lira (Diego Luna). The latest campaign is a success, as Milk is elected supervisor for the newly zoned District 5. Milk serves San Francisco well while lobbying for a citywide ordinance protecting people from being fired because of their orientation – and rallying support against a proposed statewide referendum to fire gay schoolteachers and their supporters; he realizes that this fight against Proposition 6 represents a pivotal precipice for the gay rights movement. At the same time, the political agendas of Milk and those of another newly elected supervisor, Dan White (Josh Brolin), increasingly diverge and 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. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Sean Penn](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/428/164428626_8db481.jpg)
Sean Penn
USA
Best movies:
The Game (1997)
Carlito's Way (1993)
Persepolis (2007)
![Emile Hirsch](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/272/272358_72b69e.jpg)
Emile Hirsch
USA
Best movies:
Into the Wild (2007)
Lords of Dogtown (2005)
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
![James Franco](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/058/162058147_7f5074.png)
James Franco
USA
Best movies:
Of Mice and Men (2015) (theatrical recording)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
An American Crime (2007)
![Josh Brolin](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/784/162784936_b2d2da.jpg)
Josh Brolin
USA
Best movies:
Dune: Part Two (2024)
American Gangster (2007)
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
![Diego Luna](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/169/009/169009152_81fwuo.jpg)
Diego Luna
Mexico
Best movies:
Frida (2002)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
The Terminal (2004)
![Kelvin Yu](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/367/367162_11b06b.jpg)
Kelvin Yu
Best movies:
Star Trek (2009)
Milk (2008)
Cloverfield (2008)
![Denis O'Hare](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/612/166612385_7fc387.jpg)
Denis O'Hare
USA
Best movies:
Changeling (2008)
21 Grams (2003)
Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
![Lucas Grabeel](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/276/276966_ea8dfa.jpg)
Lucas Grabeel
USA
Best movies:
Milk (2008)
Dancing Ninja (2010)
Virginia (2010)
![Alison Pill](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/043/166043602_f0962b.jpg)
Alison Pill
Canada
Best movies:
Miss Sloane (2016)
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Milk (2008)
![Victor Garber](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/680/162680539_882f3f.png)
Victor Garber
Canada
Best movies:
Titanic (1997)
Dark Waters (2019)
Argo (2012)
![Joseph Cross](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/272/272114_0f328f.jpg)
Joseph Cross
USA
Best movies:
Milk (2008)
Licorice Pizza (2021)
Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
![Stephen Spinella](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/431/431645_c11678.jpg)
Stephen Spinella
Italy
Best movies:
Milk (2008)
And the Band Played On (1993) (TV movie)
The Normal Heart (2014) (TV movie)
![Dave Franco](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/678/164678080_9355bc.jpg)
Dave Franco
USA
Best movies:
The Lego Movie (2014)
Now You See Me (2013)
Milk (2008)
![Boyd Holbrook](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/642/166642448_5402e3.jpg)
Boyd Holbrook
USA
Best movies:
Gone Girl (2014)
Hatfields & McCoys (2012) (series)
Logan (2017)
![Elias McConnell](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/394/394576_b7b710.jpg)
Elias McConnell
Best movies:
Milk (2008)
House of Boys (2009)
Paris, I Love You (2006)
![Harmony Blossom](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/456/456173_326860.jpg)
Harmony Blossom
USA
Best movies:
My Name is Khan (2010)
Milk (2008)
Happiness Runs (2010)
![Dustin Lance Black](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/997/160997996_a4a670.jpg)
Dustin Lance Black
USA
Best movies:
Milk (2008)
![Peter Jason](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/464/163464111_97d615.jpg)
Peter Jason
USA
Best movies:
Seabiscuit (2003)
The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Milk (2008)
![Sean Paul Lockhart](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/910/157910711_f2f0a9.jpg)
Sean Paul Lockhart
USA
Best movies:
Milk (2008)
Chillerama (2011)
Judas Kiss (2011)
![Jimmy Carter](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/901/157901449_d7bf6c.jpg)
Jimmy Carter
USA