gorgeous film about Black Gay Men

From: Salon Cuir (email suppressed)
Date: Thu Apr 17 2008 - 16:33:12 PDT


Hey y'all, I just wanted to make sure you know about the PinkEye
screening I'm co-producing on Friday!

It's the 20th anniversary showing of Tongues Untied, a gorgeous,
poetic and important film by Emmy-Award-winning filmmaker & poet
Marlon Riggs. He passed away of AIDS in the 90s, after his film was
used by the religious right to attack NEA funding (remember that?).

I cannot stress enough how beautiful and meaningful this film is. I
saw it in the early 90s, and was deeply affected by its artful
portrayal of black gay men's lives. At the time, as a theory-head, I
was also impressed by its post-modern (and de-constructionist)
poetics. But don't worry, it's not academic or boring in any way -- it
is absolutely compelling.

Previous to Tongues Untied, Andy Ditzler of Film Love is showing an
extremely rare 1965 film short that is possibly the first-ever
onscreen depiction of an out black gay man. I've seen this, and it's
absolutely fascinating! We're also honored to host a panel after the
show, including Reginald Jackson (who appears in Tongues Untied),
moderator poet Tim'm West, and several Atlanta men who knew Marlon
Riggs, and representatives of In The Life Atlanta, Deeper Love program
of AID Atlanta, and Men of Onyx.

Please join me Friday evening at Eyedrum Gallery, for a once-in-a-
lifetime public screening of this wonderful film.
- Kiki Carr

more info:
http://www.hellokiki.com/pinkeye/
http://andel.home.mindspring.com/tonguesuntied.html

PinkEye Indie Queer Movie Salon &
Film Love experimental art cinema present

"Tongues Untied" by Marlon T. Riggs
in celebration of the DVD release & 20th anniversary

Friday April 18th, 8pm
Eyedrum Gallery, 290 MLK Jr. Drive SE, Atl, GA 30312
$7 cover; no one turned away
Screening followed by panel discussion featuring Reginald Jackson (who
appeared in the film) and several Atlanta men who knew Marlon Riggs,
moderated by poet Tim'm West.
Co-presented by: In The Life Atlanta, Deeper Love program of AID
Atlanta, and Men of Onyx

"Tongues Untied" is a controversial classic documentary chronicling
the black gay male experience, created by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker
Marlon T. Riggs. Using poetry, personal testimony, rap and performance
(featuring poet Essex Hemphill and others), "Tongues Untied" describes
the homophobia and racism that confront Black gay men. 2008 marks the
20th anniversary of this landmark film's production and the film's
release onto home DVD! (Film courtesy of Frameline Distribution, San
Francisco.)

Marlon Riggs' portrayal of homophobia and racism caused controversy
during Tongues Untied's original 1991 airing on PBS, and contributed
to the national debate about the National Endowment for the Arts
funding for art with gay themes, nudity, and political commentary.
Riggs' stories are fierce examples of homophobia and racism: the man
refused entry to a gay bar because of his color; the college student
left bleeding on the sidewalk after a gay-bashing; the loneliness and
isolation of the drag queen. The stories also affirm the black gay
male experience: protest marches, smoky bars, "snap divas," humorous
musicology, and vogue dancing.

Additionally, Film Love (curated by Andy Ditzler) presents the
extremely rare film Behind Every Good Man by Nikolai Ursin. This
remarkable 1965 student film from Los Angeles is very possibly the
first ever made with an openly gay black man as the subject.

MORE INFO:
There are four Tongues Untied videos posted on YouTube:
- Tongues Untied trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2T0UdNaWlo
- interview with cultural critic Herman Gray: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0jmZrf_Nw4&feature=related
- interview with AIDS activist Phill Wilson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adkGDqSg91s&feature=related
- interview with spoken word poet Juba Kalamka: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyRAP_PEc-A&feature=related
- here’s the link to buy the DVD: http://www.frameline.org/shop/item.aspx?catid=12&id=264

*–*–*–*–*–* Radlanta Blog! *–*–*–*–*–*
Wanna know what's fun, radical, or subversive in Atlanta?
Stay in the loop with Radlanta! radical Atlanta fun blog
http://radlanta.blogspot.com/

Want an alternative to the Gay Mainstream? Join us for
MondoHomo Dirty South 2008
an alternaqueer culturefest taking place in Atlanta on
Memorial Day weekend, May 23-28, 2008:
http://www.mondohomo.com/index.php

Are you a Queer/LGBTQ+ Organizer or Activist in Atlanta?
Join the virtual Atlanta LGBTQ+ Community Center:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AtlantaQueerOrgs/

__________________________________________________________________
For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.