Program Note
Bulging muscles, lesbian lovers recognizing each other at first sight, hot sex, the 1980s, a desolate desert, unrelenting desire, guns and violence, hallucinations, secrets lying in the valley⋯. Could all these ingredients be mixed and shaken to create this movie? Hardly. It requires the unique touch of director Rose Glass, who masterfully combines these elements into an unpredictable and tightly wound cinematic experience. Leading the way are the two protagonists, Lou and Jackie. Meeting in a gym in New Mexico in 1989, these two women are irresistibly drawn to each other, becoming increasingly enigmatic and dangerous as the story unfolds. Lou and Jackie are willing to do anything for each other, revealing their tough pasts along the way, as the situation becomes more precarious. They charge forward, defying all dangers. You could call their love pure and devoted, or reckless. Their destination transcends notions of good and evil, happiness and misfortune, leading to an adrenaline-fueled paradise. Witness this exquisite thrill. (Rhana JANG)