Cured (2020)
The untold story of activists who challenged psychiatry's classification of homosexuality as a mental illness — and changed history.
Cured - Movie Information
- Release Year: 2020
- Directed by: Patrick Sammon, Bennett Singer
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Documentary
- Runtime: 1h 20m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Production Companies: ITVS, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Independent Lens, Independent Film Producers (IFP)
- Production Countries: United States of America
Cured - Plot
Mentally ill. Deviant. Diseased. And in need of a cure. These were among the terms psychiatrists used to describe gay women and men in the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s. And as long as they were "sick", progress toward equality was impossible. This documentary chronicles the battle waged by a small group of activists who declared war against a formidable institution – and won a crucial victory in the modern movement for LGBTQIA+ equality.
Cured - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the story of a movement that changed medicine forever.
Doctors called them sick. The remedy was rebellion.
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Cured - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Patrick Sammon
- Bennett Singer
Main Cast
- Richard Socarides
Cured - FAQs
What is Cured about?
Cured tells the remarkable story of LGBTQ+ activists who took on the American Psychiatric Association in the early 1970s, demanding that homosexuality be removed from its official list of mental disorders. Their hard-fought campaign reshaped public perception and became a turning point in the modern LGBTQIA+ equality movement.
Did the APA actually remove homosexuality from its diagnostic manual?
Yes — in 1973, the American Psychiatric Association voted to remove homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). It was a watershed moment, driven directly by the grassroots activism the documentary chronicles, and it fundamentally changed how society understood and treated LGBTQ+ people.
Where can you stream Cured?
You can stream Cured on the PBS Documentaries Amazon Channel. It's a straightforward way to access this important film from home.
Is Cured based on real historical events?
Absolutely. The film is grounded in documented history, drawing on archival footage, photographs, and firsthand accounts from people who lived through the era. It covers the 1950s through the early 1970s, when psychiatry officially classified homosexuality as a mental illness and activists organized to challenge that designation.
Who directed Cured?
Cured was co-directed by Patrick Sammon and Bennett Singer. The two filmmakers collaborated to bring this overlooked chapter of LGBTQ+ history to a wider audience, combining archival research with compelling personal testimonies.
Is Cured worth watching?
Definitely. Critics praised Cured as a revelatory and emotionally resonant documentary that sheds light on a pivotal but underappreciated moment in civil rights history. Its tight 80-minute runtime makes it accessible, and its subject matter feels urgently relevant to contemporary conversations about LGBTQ+ rights and medical ethics.
What similar documentaries would fans of Cured enjoy?
If Cured resonated with you, check out The Celluloid Closet (1996), which examines Hollywood's portrayal of LGBTQ+ people, or Disclosure (2020), which focuses on transgender representation in media. Are You Proud? (2019) and Tab Hunter Confidential (2015) also offer compelling perspectives on LGBTQ+ history and identity.
Did Cured win any awards or festival recognition?
Cured received strong recognition on the documentary festival circuit and was broadcast as part of PBS's Independent Lens strand, which typically highlights award-caliber non-fiction filmmaking. The film's co-production with ITVS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting reflects the institutional support it earned for its historical significance.
More About Cured
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