One of our favourite London LGBTQ+ film and community events The Vito Project returns to the Cinema Museum next week with the first of three monthly screenings that have just been announced.
The 2020 programme begins with a 25th anniversary screening of The Celluloid Closet on 35mm on January 26th, followed by a double bill of Bride of Frankenstein on 35mm and The Old Dark House on February 23rd, with Good Manners playing on March 29th.
The Celluloid Closet
Sunday 26th January at 6:30pm at the Cinema Museum
25th anniversary screening of the ground-breaking documentary The Celluloid Closet directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, based on Vito Russo’s 1981 book. The Celluloid Closet provides an essential examination of LGBTQ+ representation in Hollywood movies from the silent era to the mid-90s. Through interviews of artists, actors and historians connected to the industry, the documentary looks at how censorship mandates by the Hollywood Production Code helped in the proliferation of coded gay characters and cruel stereotypes that dominated the film industry for decades.
The screening will be followed by a panel debate discussing the legacy of the movie and changes in queer representation in film since its release. Purchase advance tickets via TicketLab.
Bride of Frankenstein and The Old Dark House double bill
Sunday 23rd February 5pm at the Cinema Museum
Celebrating queer artists who worked in classic Hollywood and beyond, The Vito Project will present a double bill of two classic horror movies by British director James Whale: Bride of Frankenstein (1935) – presented from an archival 35mm print – and The Old Dark House (1932) in a digital presentation of new 4K restoration.
While the life of openly gay Whale has since been documented in biographies and fictionalised in works such as Gods and Monsters (1998), he received limited serious consideration as an auteur during his lifetime in spite of the commercial success of his movies and their indelible influence on the art form. This is an opportunity to watch two of his greatest movies back-to-back and savour their wonderfully queer sense of humour and visual panache on the big screen.
After the movies, there will be a panel discussion on James Whale and the style and sensibility of his movies. Purchase tickets in advance for the double bill at TicketLab.
Good Manners/As Boas Maneiras
Sunday 29th March at 6.30pm at the Cinema Museum
Directed by Marco Dutra and Juliana Rojas Good Manners/As Boas Maneiras (2017) is an affecting and magical fairy tale, one of the most interesting movies to come from Brazil in past years. Defying genre definitions and narrative conventions, it succeeds as a social drama, as a compelling love story and as a parable about motherhood. With its unexpected twists, this is one of those movies in which one should know as little as possible about the plot. You have been warned… Clara (Isabél Zuaa), a lonely nurse from the outskirts of São Paulo, is hired by mysterious and wealthy Ana (Marjorie Estiano) as the nanny for her unborn child. The two women develop a strong bond, but a fateful night changes their plans.
Despite being a film festival favourite, with 25 awards from multiple festivals under its belt including the Special Jury Price in Locarno 2017, Good Manners has yet to secure a distributor in the UK. This is a rare and special opportunity to see the movie on the big screen.
All screening are at the Cinema Museum, 2 Dugard Way, London SE11 4TH. Tickets £6 And advance tickets may be purchased online from TicketLab, or directly from the Museum by calling 020 7840 2200 during office hours.
Venue accessibility: Level access on the ground floor, lift for disabled /non-disabled visitors and volunteers. Accessible toilet with step-free access on the ground floor large enough for a motorised wheelchair.
Film descriptions courtesy of The Vito Project.
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