While most documentary films embrace a view that examines a person more or less from a biographical point of view, Robert Epstein and Richard Schiechen's documentary about the first openly gay elected official in the United States takes a somewhat different approach. The subject of the film, Harvey Milk, was elected to the San Francisco board of city supervisors in 1977, and proceeded to champion for the rights not only of homosexuals, but of underprivileged people in general, gaining popularity by appealing to minorities and working class folks. The story of Milk is one that demonstrates the power of the U.S. election system, one that serves the interest of the public when utilized to its fullest, and ultimately proves that anything is possible through perseverance and determination.

Milk's story is truly fascinating. This openly gay man from New York state moved to San Francisco in the 1960s, becoming a figure in the counterculture and peace movements before expressing an interest in public office. While the majority of the public did not agree with some of his more outspoken views on the rights of gays and lesbians, Milk succeeded in winning over large portions of the public through his crusades for better representation in local government, interest in the livelihoods of average people, and dedication toward causes that he believed were in the best interest of all.

In examining the legacy left behind by this pioneer of civil rights, Epstein and Schiechen's film essentially abandons the usual approach and instead focuses on exactly what the title says. The film is a study of the time in which Milk lived, and the duration of his tenure as an elected official. In doing so, the film is a compelling examination of what it was to be living in San Francisco of the late 1970s, a time when gay activists in the city were campaigning for rights equal to those of others.

If there's one problem that this film has, it's that it definitely is swayed towards the homosexual audience. The film stresses Milk's role as a gay rights crusader, which certainly was part of his appeal and a primary reason he was elected, but equally certainly not the entire ingredient explaining his success as an elected official. That this film is geared more towards gay audiences will definitely dissuade some viewers, but ultimately, I believe the fascinating story this film documents makes up for any qualms a viewer may have if one approaches the film with an open mind.

Milk's biography is really skimmed over, and occupies precious little screen time. For a viewer interested in the man rather than the time in which he lived, I would suggest reading biographical information rather than rely solely on this film. The Times of Harvey Milk does briefly discuss Milk's early life and his introduction into the political world, but it really focuses on other aspects of the man and his story, dealing mostly with Milk's role as a city supervisor and the way in which he affected the time and place that he served in. While this element of the film is fascinating and still resonant today with the ongoing discussion of gay rights, the biographical element is more or less ignored along the way.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Harvey Milk's life was its tragic end. In 1978, Milk and the Mayor of San Francisco, George Moscone, were brutally assassinated by a former city supervisor, Dan White. White had previously resigned and subsequently had attempted to rescind his resignation. When it became clear that he would not be reappointed, White shot and killed Milk and Moscone, whom he believed were instrumental in the decision. The film spends a good deal of time examining the crime, the trial that followed, and the public reaction to the rather light verdict.

The murder case presented in the film seems to have been lifted straight from a novel; it's so outlandish that one can't help but be mesmerized by the bizarre true circumstances surrounding Milk's assassination. While the entirety of this film is interesting and does a fine job relaying its story, it is the situation surrounding Milk's death that really hooks its audience and makes the film resonate with the viewer even more.

For their part, Epstein and Schiechen do a fantastic job of assembling footage for use in The Times of Harvey Milk. The extensive archival footage is splendidly edited and utilized, really driving the film along. Complementing the footage is a series of heartfelt interviews with Milk's friends, associates, and acquaintances that really hammer home just how much this guy meant to the people he represented while in office. The interviews assembled here are pretty remarkable; very candid and telling, these eyewitness accounts end up providing a much more complete view of Milk's legacy than the usual disjointed talking heads would be able to.

The powerful story and visuals of this film are accompanied onscreen by an equally moving soundtrack by Mark Isham that seems to strike just the right emotional response. The score is never overpowering or melodramatic, but seems to accentuate the tragic nature of the story while also capturing the sense of accomplishment at Milk's achievements in the face of adversity.

The film is narrated by the one and only Harvey Fierstein, whose gravelly voice fills in the few gaps between the footage assembled for the film. Really, the narration is almost unnecessary, but does provide some explanation at times.

Harvey Milk, in full Harvey Bernard Milk (born May 22, 1930, Woodmere, Long Island, New York, U.S.—died Nov. 27, 1978, San Francisco, California), American politician and gay-rights activist.

After graduating from the New York State College for Teachers in Albany (1951), Milk served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and was discharged in 1955 (Milk later said that he was dishonourably discharged due to his homosexuality, but military records do not support this claim). He held several jobs before becoming a financial analyst in New York. In 1972 he moved to San Francisco, where he opened a camera store and soon gained a following as a leader in the gay community. His popularity grew when he challenged the city’s gay leadership, which he thought was too conservative in its attempts to gain greater political rights for homosexuals.

In 1973 Milk ran for a seat on the city’s Board of Supervisors but was defeated. After another unsuccessful bid in 1976, he was elected in 1977, becoming one of the first openly gay elected officials in U.S. history. The following year Milk and the city’s mayor, George Moscone, were shot and killed in City Hall by Dan White, a conservative former city supervisor. At White’s murder trial, his attorneys successfully argued that his judgment had been impaired by a prolonged period of clinical depression, one symptom of which was the former health enthusiast’s consumption of junk food. The attorneys’ argument, mischaracterized as the claim that junk food had caused White’s diminished capacity, was derided as the “Twinkie defense” by the satirist Paul Krassner while reporting on the trial for the San Francisco Bay Guardian. White’s conviction on the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter sparked an uproar in the city that was subsequently termed the “White Night Riot.” Numerous books and films were made about Milk, including the 1984 documentary The Times of Harvey Milk, which earned an Academy Award; an opera, Harvey Milk (1995); and Milk (2008), a cinematic depiction of his political career that starred Sean Penn. In 2009 Milk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. For an entire community, Harvey Milk is remembered as a hero, a martyr to a cause.

After three unsuccessful campaigns, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors. His election was a landmark event. The reason? Harvey Milk was gay, and his election was the first of an openly gay elected official in the United States. To win the election, Milk had to gain the support of all segments of his district. On election night, Harvey Milk reminded his supporters: "This is not my victory -- it's yours. If a gay man can win, it proves that there is hope for all minorities who are willing to fight."
Harvey Milk was born in 1930 in Woodmere, Long Island, New York. He graduated from New York College for Teachers, served four years in the US Navy, taught high school mathematics and history on Long Island and worked in finance in New York City. When he moved to San Francisco in 1972, he opened a camera store on Castro Street.
Milk's friends and associates remember him as an outgoing person with a keen sense of humor. A brilliant speaker and neighborhood leader, he was soon referred to as "the Mayor of Castro Street." He entered San Francisco politics by campaigning for supervisor as an openly gay candidate in 1973; he lost but won an impressive 17,000 votes. Milk then established the Castro Village Association of local merchants. He ran for supervisor in 1975 and lost again but Mayor George Moscone appointed Milk to the Board of Permit Appeals, making him the first openly gay commissioner in the country.
In 1977, after district elections replaced citywide elections, Milk ran again for the post of supervisor and won. The first openly gay elected official, he was aware of the tremendous discrimination and prejudice that confronted gays and lesbians. Under his urging, the city council passed a Gay Rights Ordinance in 1978 that protected gays from being fired from their jobs. Milk championed the cause of those with little power against downtown corporations and real estate developers, campaigning especially hard for the rights of senior citizens.

Milk knew that his position as a San Francisco Supervisor advocating gay rights placed him in danger. Hate mail began to pour into his office. With chilling foresight Milk made a tape recording on November 18, 1977, with instructions to have it read only if he died by assassination. In it he says, "If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door." On November 27, 1978, Supervisor Milk and Mayor Moscone were assassinated by Dan White, a former police officer who had clashed with Milk over gay issues. After shooting the mayor, White entered Milk's office and shot him five times at his desk.
At the trial, White's attorney used the "Twinkie" defense -- that too much junk food affected White's reasoning abilities. The jury found him guilty of voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to seven years, eight months for the two murders. Many San Franciscans were outraged at his light sentence.

Demonstrations at City Hall erupted into riots on May 21, 1979 (the eve of what would have been Milk's 49th birthday), which became known as "White Night."
Harvey Milk left a legacy. He profoundly influenced gay and lesbian politics, and was also a champion of human rights. Milk once said, "...you've got to keep electing gay people...to know there is better hope for tomorrow, not only for gays, but for blacks, Asians, the disabled, our senior citizens and us. Without hope, we give up. I know you cannot live on hope alone, but without it life is not worth living. You and you and you have got to see that the promise does not fade." His martyrdom is a painful reminder of the length and difficulty of the journey to freedom.