The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is set to host a film series titled "Full of Pleasure: The Beginnings of New Queer Cinema" starting June 15, 2024. The series will feature seminal works from the early 1990s that form part of what film critic B. Ruby Rich famously termed "New Queer Cinema." These films, which challenged conventional narratives and showcased the experiences of the LGBTQ community, include Derek Jarman’s "Edward II," Todd Haynes’ "Poison," and Cheryl Dunye’s "The Watermelon Woman," among others.
Rich's concept of New Queer Cinema described a wave of films characterized by their avant-garde stylings and postmodern sensibilities. This movement emerged during a time when filmmakers dared to address issues like the AIDS epidemic and homophobia, often through visual languages borrowed from video art and the avant-garde. The term gained rapid traction after being highlighted in the Village Voice and subsequently by Britain's Sight and Sound magazine, eventually becoming a recognized category in cinemas and film festivals.
This series will showcase not only well-known works like Gus Van Sant’s "My Own Private Idaho," which starred Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix but also films that might not have received as much attention, such as Gregg Araki’s "The Living End" and Rose Troche’s "Go Fish." The screenings aim to highlight the energy and defiance of the era and extend the conversation around LGBTQ representation in cinema.
Curated by K.J. Relth-Miller, the series will also feature classics like Jennie Livingston’s documentary "Paris Is Burning" and Tom Kalin’s "Swoon." Rich, who is 76 and currently based in Paris, reflects on how these films provided not just a cinematic but a cultural jolt, creating a space for LGBTQ narratives at a time when they were sorely needed.
This collection not only underscores the historical importance of these films but also their enduring relevance in the contemporary cinematic landscape.