AllMovie

In the 1970s Mel Cheren was the king of the New York dance scene, and the following decade he was fighting for his life against the ravaging effects of AIDS. In this documentary from director Gene Graham, viewers are invited to travel back to an era where larger than life legends and tightly knit communities faced a formidable battle against a mysterious disease. A former editor turned documentary filmmaker, Graham presents personal interviews with Cheren and other members of the New York scene in order to better understand the mood of the era. In addition to being a primary investor in the legendary Paradise Garage nightclub, Cheren was also a founding member of West End Records - a seminal dance music label that had marked influence on the development of modern hip-hop and electronica. Cheren truly has his finger on the pulse of the nightlife culture, and then it all went wrong. Later, after being diagnosed with AIDS, Cheren focused his energies on fighting the disease with the help of such organizations as LifeBEAT and 24 Hours for Life.