In Michael, Forest Kelley imagines the history of gay men living in rural western Massachusetts, USA, tracing the experiences of his uncle – an artist whose adult life was bookended by landmark events in LGBTQ history. Michael was found dead on June 14, 1985, in the early days of the AIDS crisis. By incorporating and interpreting Michael’s own 8mm filmstrips, Kelley reenacts known events, reconstructs shared histories, and speculates on experiences Michael might have had. Part documentary, this work seeks answers but remains preoccupied with the unknowable, with visualizing the hopes and fears that continue to resonate within Kelly’s family and community.
