More than 60 commercial and underground films dedicated to the sexual revolution will be presented in Free to Love: The Cinema of the Sexual Revolution, running Jan. 10 – Feb. 15, 2014, at International House Philadelphia’s Ibrahim Theater (3701 Chestnut St., Philadelphia; 215-387-5125), a resource for world-class avant-garde and repertory cinema since 1976. This expansive film series, which includes appearances and talks by several of the original filmmakers and influential film historians, explores the political and artistic tumult of the 1960s and ’70s and its effect on contemporary culture. The series is supported by a grant from the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage. Free to Love: The Cinema of the Sexual Revolution, developed by International House Philadelphia (IHP) curator Jesse Pires, will present rare screenings and mainstream favorites. Titillating, trailblazing, playful and politically charged, the films represent the range of sexually liberated cinema, including films by James Broughton, Barbara Hammer, Jack Smith and Andy Warhol. The series is a thoughtfully provocative look at an era of transgression and risk-taking, when seismic cultural shifts in attitudes toward gender roles, pre-marital sex and sexual orientation played out for the first time on the big screen. A complete schedule of screenings follows below.
“The sexual revolution, as defined by this film series, encompasses the publication of Helen Gurley Brown’s Sex and the Single Girl, the mass availability of the Pill, the Stonewall riots and the sudden rise in popularity of erotic cinema,” says Pires. “Free to Love shows how the conflicts and contradictions of this period inspired new and radical filmmakers, taking the conversation to the most polite corners of the culture.” Rare screenings in the series include Freedom to Love (Jan. 17, 7 p.m.; dir. Phyllis & Eberhardt Kronhausen, West Germany, 1969), a quasi-documentary on human sexuality; and Score (Jan. 24, 7 pm.; U.S./Yugoslavia, 1972), a “porn chic” exploration of bisexual relationships from adult film auteur Radley Metzger, who will make a personal appearance to discuss the film. On Feb. 13 at 7 p.m., feminist filmmaker Barbara Hammer, whose experimental films of the ’70s have been highlighted as pioneer queer work and featured in retrospectives at The Museum of Modern Art New York, Tate Modern London and gay and lesbian film festivals worldwide, will present an evening of seven of her short films such as A Gay Day (1973) and Women I Love (1976).
The series includes famously banned films Flaming Creatures (Jan. 16, 7 p.m.; dir. Jack Smith, US, 1963) and In the Realm of the Senses (Jan 11, 7 p.m.; dir. Nagisa Oshima, Japan, 1976), as well as lighter fare highlighting the humorous side of free love and its accompanying anxieties: Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (Jan. 25, 9 p.m.; dir. Paul Mazursky, US, 1969) and Woody Allen’s Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sex (Feb. 14, 7 p.m.; US, 1972). The mainstream popularity of Swedish films I am Curious (Yellow) (Jan. 10, 7 p.m.) and I am Curious (Blue) (Feb. 15, 8 p.m.; both dir. Vilgot Sjoman, Sweden, 1967) as well as the infamous Deep Throat (Jan. 11, 10 p.m.; dir. Gerard Damiano, US, 1972) represent the era’s increasing crossover from pornography into mainstream culture. The exhibition will be accompanied by introductions from noted film critic J. Hoberman, curator Karl McCool of Dirty Looks NYC and film historians Eric Schaefer, Whitney Strub, and Elena Gorfinkel. A scholarly catalogue will be available for purchase and will feature essays by film historians and a DVD of short films shown during the series. MORE
[complete schedule after the jump]
Schedule of Screenings and Programs by Date
Friday, January 10 at 7 p.m.
I am Curious (Yellow), Vilgot Sjoman, 1967, 121 min.
Touch Cinema, Valie Export, 1968, 1 min.
Saturday, January 11 at 5 p.m.
Pink Narcissus, James Bidgood, 1971, 71 min.
Jabbok, Tom Chomont, 1967, 3 min.
Oblivion,Tom Chomont, 1969, 6 min.
at 7 p.m.
In the Realm of the Senses, Nagisa Oshima,1976, 109 min.
at 10 p.m. Introduced by Karl McCool of Dirty Looks NYC
Deep Throat, Gerard Damiano, 1972, 61 min.
Confessions, Curt McDowell, 1972, 16 min.
Thursday, January 16 at 7 p.m.
Shorts Program
Flaming Creatures, Jack Smith 1963, 45 min.
Fuses, Carolee Schneemann, 1967, 30 min.
Lovemaking, Scott Bartlett, 1970, 13 min.
Schmeerguntz, Gunvor Nelson, 1965, 15 min.
6/64 Mama & Papa: An Otto Muehl Happening, Kurt Kren, 1964, 4 min.
Friday, January 17 at 7 p.m.
Introduced by Eric Schaefer
Phyllis & Eberhardt Kronhausen, Freedom to Love, 1969, 90 min.
Saturday, January 18
at 5 p.m.
Gift (aka Venom), Knud Leif Thomsen, 1966, 96 min.
at 8 p.m.
The Telephone Book, Nelson Lyon, 1971, 81 min.
Desire Pie, Lisa Crafts, 1976, 5 min.
at 10 p.m.
Fritz the Cat, Ralph Bakshi 1972, 78 min.
Thursday, January 23 at 7 p.m.
The Set, Frank Brittain 1970, 102 min.
Friday, January 24 at 7 p.m.
Introduced by Elena Gorfinkel, followed by a discussion with director Radley Metzger
Score, Radley Metzger, 1972, 95 min.
Saturday, January 25
at 5 p.m.
Hot Times (aka My Erotic Fantasies), Jim McBride, 1974, 80 min.
at 7 p.m.
I, a Man, Andy Warhol, 1967, 97 min.
Mario Banana no. 2, Andy Warhol, 1964, 3 min.
Saturday, January 25 at 9 p.m.
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Paul Mazursky, 1969, 105 min.
Thursday, January 30 at 7 p.m.
Multimedia Resource Center Program
A Quickie, Dirk Kortz, 1970, 3 min
Rich and Judy, Laird Sutton, 1970, 12 min.
Riverbody, Alice Anne Parker, 1970, 7 min.
Holding, Constance Beeson 1971, 13 min.
Love Toad, Greg Von Buchau 1970, 2 min.
Fullness, Laird Sutton, 1974, 13 min.
First Date, Mariko Tse, 1976, 5 min.
Eyetoon, Jerry Abrams 1968, 7 min.
Unfolding, Constance Beeson, 1969, 16 min.
Orange, Karen Johnson, 1971, 3 min.
Friday, January 31 at 7 p.m.
Pat Rocco Program, Introduced by Whitney Strub
A Special Friend, 1967, 15 min.
A Matter of Life, 1968, 14 min.
Sex and the Single Gay (trailer), 1970, 4 min.
Breath of Love, 1969, 20 min.
How to Shoot a Nude on the Freeway, 1969, 4 min.
Sign of Protest, 1970, 20 min.
Yes, 1968, 23 min.
Discovery, 1969, 12 min.
Saturday, February 1
at 5 p.m.
Barbarella, Roger Vadim, 1968, 98 min.
at 7 p.m.
No More Excuses, Robert Downey, Sr., 1968, 62 min.
The Continuing Story of Carel & Ferd, Arthur Ginsberg & Video Free America, 1970-75, 58 min.
at 10 p.m.
Boys in the Sand, Wakefield Poole, 1971, 90 min.
Love Objects, Tom Chomont, 1971, 11 min.
Saturday, February 8
at 5 p.m.
It is Not the Homosexual Who is Perverse, But the Society in Which he Lives, Rosa von Praunheim, 1971, 67 min.
Queens at Heart, Southeastern Pictures Corporation, 1967, 22 min.
at 7 p.m.
Introduced by J. Hoberman
WR: Mysteries of the Organism, Dusan Makavejev, 1971, 84 min.
Thursday, February 13 at 7 p.m.
Introduced by Barbara Hammer
Barbara Hammer Early Short Films
A Gay Day, 1973, 3 min.
Menses, 1974, 4 min.
Dyketactics x 2, 1974, 8 min.
Women I Love, 1976, 27 min.
Multiple Orgasm, 1977, 10 min.
Double Strength, 1978, 15 min.
No No Nooky TV, 1987, 10 min.
Friday, February 14 at 7 p.m.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask, Woody Allen, 1972, 88 min.
The Bed, James Broughton, 1968, 20 min.
Saturday, February 15 at 8 p.m.
I am Curious (Blue), Vilgot Sjoman, 1967, 107 min.