Archive

Special Screening

Fireworks

Kenneth ANGER

USA1947 15min 16mm B&W

Synopsis

Kenneth ANGER is associated with such words as homosexuality, Satanism, and the birth of music videos. Fireworks is his early piece. Starring himself - who was a child actor - the film is about leaving behind the securities of home, and finding out about his sexuality. It is hard to believe that the film was made by a 17-year-old. The film shows the leading actor burning a Christmas tree in a Marines uniform. The two are symbols of home security and machismo. Then the film shows him lying in bed with his new male companion. This signifies his breaking the ties from the family and finding out about his sexuality. Early in the film, we see a broken finger plaster cast. In the end, we see that the finger is no longer broken. (PARK Dong-hyun)

Diretor

Kenneth ANGER

Kenneth Anger was born in 1927 in California and grew up in Hollywood and started out as a child actor, but his early interest in filmmaking was apparent. Anger developed into one of the pioneers of the American underground film movement. His gritty, violent, often homosexual-themed films were frequently too strong for American audiences, and many of his productions were filmed in Europe, mainly France.