Tuesday 6 March 2012

We love Ken Russell forever

Dear Femmes and friends of femmes

We're very excited to announce this celebratory screening of one of the femmes' favourite films, Ken Russell's WOMEN IN LOVE. The screening is our contribution to the London-wide event Ken Russell Forever. Join us for a wonderful chance to watch one of Russell's greatest films on the big screen.

Russell's death was a terrible loss to British cinema and we'd like to celebrate his genius and his groundbreaking vision. What's more Ken Russell gave some of our greatest actresses their greatest parts. He talked in his final TV interview about his 'four-decade crush' on actress Glenda Jackson and we have to confess he may not be alone in his admiration. Join us to marvel at what the dynamic between vision, courage and talent can really achieve.

Here's the film information - hope to see you there.

Sarah & Selina

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Thursday 15 March 9.00pm
Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street, E8 1HE
Tickets: £10 / conc £9 / members £8

WOMEN IN LOVE
Dir. Ken Russell, UK, 1969, 131 mins
Cast Glenda Jackson, Oliver Reed, Alan Bates, Jennie Linden

Women in Love, along with The Devils, is probably the most notorious film in Russell’s canon mainly because of the infamous nude wrestling scene between Alan Bates and Oliver Reed. Here at Femmes HQ, we've always been in love with Russell’s adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s iconic modernist investigation into 20th century sexual relations largely because of Glenda Jackson, and her stunning portrait of Gudrun, a bold, inquisitive modern woman. Forget the homoerotic wrestling, how can we not adore her avant-garde wardrobe so beautifully crafted by costume designer Shirley Russell (Russell’s first wife), her raucous field dancing, her communion with cows - all of which ends with her hobnobbing in the Tyrolean Alps and flirting with a gay German sculptor?

Pauline Kael described the film ‘as a gothic sex fantasy’ and compared it to ‘Lawrence’s accounts of bad sex’. What did she know? Glenda won an Oscar and Russell’s reputation as the maverick maestro of British cinema was sealed.

The screening will be introduced by writer Ali Smith.

Club Des Femmes is a queer-feminist film club that pops up every once in a while in London. Our next event will be at Fringe! April 2012.

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