I saw the movie only a few years ago in my early twenties and I didn't get it. It never occurred to me 'not knowing what it is' meant AIDS back then. I'm not No

I saw the movie only a few years ago in my early twenties and I didn't get it. It never occurred to me 'not knowing what it is' meant AIDS back then. I'm not North American so the reference was totally lost on me. Also I didn't think it was an important detail and I never thought about it.