The Books of James
2002 | 00:16:30 | United States | English | Color | Mono
Collection: Single Titles
Tags: Activism, Aging, AIDS/HIV, Humor, LGBTQ


Through a stack of personal journals, this video reconstructs a biography of the South Dakota-born, New York City-enlightened artist James Wentzy. Tracing his days starting out as a struggling artist and later involved as an AIDS activist, the video provides an intimate portrait of a neglected hero. Wentzy reads from journals and shares old family snapshots and notebook sketches. “I hope I don’t die of sainthood,” Wentzy jokes in an entry from 1990—the pivotal time when he was becoming involved with ACT-UP and beginning to live healthier after the revelation of his HIV-positive status.
Exhibitions + Festivals
OutFest (LA, CA.), 2004
Rotterdam International Film Festival (The Netherlands), 2005
Athens Int'l Film/Video Festival (OH), 2005