Film

Poison

Directed by Todd Haynes

With Edith Meeks, Larry maxwell, James Lyons

(1991) 85min, 35mm

Haynes’ debut feature, inspired by Jean Genet’s work, is a jolt of queer energy that won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and ignited controversy from right-wing evangelicals for getting an NEA grant. Haynes masterfully weaves three disparate storylines to explore alienation, paranoia, AIDS, and repressed desire.

Sodom

Directed by Luther Price

 (1989) 21min, 16mm

Based on the biblical story, avant-garde master Price’s brilliantly edited Sodom is a “horrific assemblage of 1970s gay porno films...accompanied by Gregorian chants and interspersed with crowd scenes from biblical epics. A luridly discolored tangle of limbs, orifices, and bruises” (J. Hoberman).