Yesterday at the New Museum I watched and embraced—Hail the New Puritan—directed by Charles Atlas. It’s a fantasy documentary following the day in the life of dancer, Michael Clark. Filmed when Michael was 21, at the cusp of his fame. Above is a clip from HNP—the underwear egg dance. You can see HNP in full on Youtube. Highlights (everything): 1984 London street scenes, Leigh Bowery & friends (designs costumes for MC), The Fall, club scene, the journalist, dance practice, and performance—oh yeah, the dog in the dream scene. Like nothing you’ve ever seen!

Á Nos Amours (1983) directed by Maurice Pialat. A character study of 15 year old Suzanne, her many love affairs and troubled home life. I’m on a movie watching roll when I’m weaving. I now have this little black box (roku) that houses hundreds of Criterion films. Autoplay is on and I let the French films roll. Friday I watched four French and half of a Swedish film, but I digress…

highlights: the flouncy stencil title treatment, pinks & reds in fields, the walking away outfit of the ‘American jerk‘ – hilarious, bro/sis red & grey switchero, all Suzanne’s prints, and the towering neon bearded head at the department store. I have a kindred spirit on flickr, hundredsmillions has almost every scene I wanted to point out.

Claire’s Knee (1970) directed by Eric Rohmer. Jérôme, a 35-year-old diplomat, is struck by teenage girl Claire and harbours an unquenchable desire to touch her knee …

I’d rename this film, Jérôme’s Speedboat. What’s not captured in these stills are the surrounding beauty of the mountains that frame the film. It’s summertime in the French Alps, and pleasantly not much is happening. Highlights: the color red, Aurora’s long floral dresses, the mountains, the hike, Laura’s black/maroon tye dye shirt, giant leather belt, and no soundtrack. (note: not pictured is Claire)
stills via here
if needed, you can watch it all on youtube

A new web project is live on the net!

TEENAGE is a film in development by Director Matt Wolf (Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell), Writer Jon Savage with Executive Producer Jason Schwartzman. It’s based on Jon Savage’s book Teenage: The Creation of Youth 1875-1945. (a must read!) We created TEENAGE film blog to share our archival finds, flickr pics, director’s notes, film updates & special guest contributors. I’m curating the content for the site, presenting historic youth culture alongside contemporary teenage happenings. Visit TEENAGE and be sure to watch the teaser—a complete jaw-dropper.

Join TEENAGE film Flickr group and add your historic teen photographs, either of yourself or from your collection. Totally ga-ga over the photographs.

Nothing is New won’t quit, visit both sites for your archival pleasures.

I stumbled on this 1992 National Film Board of Canada documentary today, Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives. I watched it in 10 minute increments until youTube censored part 10, and beyond. (boo!) Fascinating stories of coming out in 1950s Canada. These ladies know how to stick it to ‘em. Barfights, motorcycles & road trips to Greenwich Village.
Start here with Part 1.
And if you like (love) Word is Out, you’re in for a treat.

This weekend was spent watching movies and weaving baskets. Really intense. My hands are sore and I had odd dreams. In order of appearance :

Old Enough 1984 tv movie recommended by Ben watch it here, BFFs in NYC
Grown-Ups 1980 directed by Mike Leigh, Brit mayham
Séance on a Wet Afternoon 1964 creepster recommended by Kate
Persona 1966 Ingmar Bergman, seaside stratches
Aimée and Jaguar 1999, love in war Berlin
Valley Girl 1983, gag me
Pretty Baby 1978 Louis Malle, wow Susan and Brooke
Babies 2009 doc, Mongolian textiles animals
Small Town Gay Bar 2007 doc, rec by MC, hearts warm & break, Eeyore & faux igloo
Picnic at Hanging Rock 1975 Peter Weir, outback Valentine doom