The Sexual "Peversions" April Film Series:

In putting together out film list this month, we realized that all the films we were looking at involved some kind of sexual "perversion": BDSM, elaborate fantasies, sex work for its own pleasures, multiple partners, and many other ways of resisting the heteronormative expectations of what constitutes sexual pleasure. We like themes around here --theme parties, theme outfits--so so we decided to do a whole month devoted to the theme of sexual perversion. Belle de Jour , a classic from the explosion of groundbreaking cinema that came from France in the 1960's, is an exploration of sexual repression, bourgoise values, and the pleasures of whips-and-chains sexual fantasies; Secretary, based on a short story by Mary Gaitskill, is a modern American workplace fantasy--replete with strange games of domination, submission, and spankings; Love For Share is a sweet and non-judgemental take on polygamous desire in modern Indonesia. So bring your pervy self on down to the Shakti Center office this month...you know you want to.

The Saturday Night Drive-In:

The Saturday Night Drive-In is our weekly answer to the ups, downs, and sideways of the regular work week. Three Saturdays of the month at 6:00 PM (come rain or shine!) we screen films that raise questions about gender and sexuality, followed by an informal discussion/rant/rave session. We have a strong commitment to screening films that are independently produced and directed, as well as films that span the globe in terms of theme, setting, and time period. However, we also love popular films and feel that they also provide a rich source of discussion and debate. Ultimately, we hope these films provide a great jumping-off point to open discussion about the intersections between gender and sexuality, popular culture and media, and other contested points of social and individual identity, such as class, caste, race, ethnicity, language, religion, and nationality. Bring some popcorn, soda pop, and your best girl/boy/third-gender playmate and come on down!

Schedule for April:

April 5th: Belle de Jour (1967, France, dir. Luis Bunuel)

April 12th: Secretary (2002, USA, dir. Steven Shainberg)

April 19th: Live Flesh (Carne Tremula) (1997, Spain, dir. Pedro Almodovar)

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