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The Gay Short Films of Stephen Cummins (18*) + Introduction by curator Alex Davidson

Experiments in Film

Two men stand topless in a dark room.

Discover the beautiful and haunting shorts of Australian filmmaker Stephen Cummins (1960-94) which portrayed beautiful, sometimes provocative depictions of gay men in the 1980s and early 1990s.

These nine shorts by Australian filmmaker, curator and artist Stephen Cummins (1960-94), newly digitised, restored and remastered by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia and Cummins’ collaborator Simon Hunt, offer an evocative, provocative depiction of gay male lives in the 1980s and early 90s. From early student films to his later, mature works, which often embrace dance and movement, this retrospective celebrates the works of a great queer talent, whose films are almost unknown in the UK.

Highlights include Resonance, his award-winning short exploring the aftermath of a homophobic attack, featuring two gorgeous dance sequences, the unashamedly saucy Elevation, climaxing in a sex scene and a shower of champagne, and the jaunty and joyous Body Corporate, in which a construction worker trips the light fantastic – in heels.

Co-presented with the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia

Please note this programme includes depictions of homophobia.

Cinema 2

Location
Barbican Cinema 2 & 3 are located on Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican’s Silk Street entrance. From Silk Street, you’ll see a zebra crossing that will take you across the road to the venue. 

Address
Beech Street
London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.

Programme

Resonance

An act of homophobic violence has a profound effect on the men involved, culminating in a beautiful moment of sexual intimacy and two extraordinary dance performances.

1991 Australia Dir Stephen Cummins, Simon Hunt 11 min

 

Breathbeat

A haunting snapshot of homoerotic passion.

1984 Australia Dir Stephen Cummins 5 min

 

Blue Movie

Shadows, whispers and a dizzying dance.

1984 Australia Dir Stephen Cummins 3 min

 

Deadpan

A slow pan around a room becomes increasingly unnerving.

1985 Australia Dir Stephen Cummins 5 min

 

Le Corps Imagé

Classical Greek male torsos merge into ambiguous gender zones as they are projected onto performers’ bodies.

1987 Australia Dir Stephen Cummins 10 min

Elevation

Two men kiss passionately in an elevator, to the disapproval of members of the public, leading to an unapologetic celebration of gay sex.

1989 Australia Dir Stephen Cummins 10 min

 

Taste the Difference

This very short film of two men kissing was banned for being too hot for TV.

1989 Australia Dir Stephen Cummins 1 min

 

Body Corporate

A construction worker breaks into a delightful dance number in kitten heels, despite the taunts of a hostile choreographer.

1993 Australia Dir Stephen Cummins 10 min

 

The HIV Game Show

A wry commentary on the treatment of people with HIV, adapted from an uncompleted film by Cummins.

1995 Australia Dir Stephen Cummins (posthumous) with Simon Hunt and Brad Miller 2 min