Synopsis

Elaine Epstein’s 2003 documentary, *State of Denial*, examines the AIDS crisis in Africa, focusing on the controversial policies of President Mbeki’s government. The film details the government's denial of a clear link between HIV and AIDS, and its subsequent refusal to provide life-saving antiretroviral drugs, citing unsubstantiated concerns about potential long-term risks. Interweaving the personal narratives of HIV-positive Africans and activists with stark statistics of the epidemic, *State