Race, Sex & Cinema: The World of Marlon Riggs

Series Site

An artist of extraordinary courage and vision, Marlon Riggs (1957–1994) gave cinematic voice to gay black men at a time in America when to be either was to be denied one’s full humanity. Defying the culture of silence and shame that pervaded the era of the AIDS crisis, Riggs created vibrantly expressive, innovative works that broke down the divide between documentary and personal essay to explore issues of race, sexuality, identity, and representation. When he became a lightning rod for controversy in the conservative culture wars of the 1980s and early 1990s, Riggs remained unbowed even as his health failed, working tirelessly to bring the richness of the queer African-American experience to the screen. Twenty-five years after his death, his voice remains vital, as seen in this complete retrospective which brings together all of Riggs’ films alongside those of his contemporaries, key influences, and those whom he in turn inspired and who carry on his legacy.
Feb 6—14