The Devils: Uncut and Uncensored

Monday, January 25, 2010

SOLD OUT!

Presented by performer Justin Bond.

It makes perfect sense that Justin Bond, that self-proclaimed “tranny witch” who gleefully mocked religion during his days in the duo Kiki & Herb, would select an ultra- blasphemous film for his QUEER/ART/FILM selection. Adapted from an Aldous Huxley novel, Ken Russell’s 1971 cult-classic THE DEVILS stars Vanessa Redgrave as a hunchbacked Mother Superior in 17th century France, whose sexual obsession with a handsome priest (Oliver Reed), spirals out of control. The film was considered so shocking when it premiered in 1971 that it received an X rating, and was sliced by the censors. But don’t worry, we will be screening the full, uncut version of the film, in a gorgeous, rare archival print. Expect lesbianism, torture, orgies, masturbation, and incredible production design from another controversial British filmmaker — Derek Jarman! EXPECT TO BE SHOCKED!

Justin Bond on THE DEVILS:

“When I was very young I fell in love with Vanessa Redgrave. The film roles she played deeply stirred my imagination… Mary, Queen of Scots, Isadora Duncan, and Lillian Hellman’s best friend Julia to name a few. So many of her films I wanted to see weren’t shown in the small town in Maryland where I grew up, or on TV. The advent of VCRs opened a whole world of film to me. I scrambled to see as many subversively glamorous movies as I could. One of them was THE DEVILS. At the time I was a closeted Tranny Witch living in a stiflingly oppressive, conservative town. As soon as I put on THE DEVILS, I knew I was watching something “evil” that I shouldn’t be exposed to and I was thrilled. THE DEVILS was my first Ken Russell film. He lacerated the sacred monsters of the church, was blatantly homoerotic, sympathized with the witches and was stylishly camp. The production designer, Derek Jarman, would latter go on to make one of my all-time favorite films, Jubilee. But I was asked to choose a film that influenced my world view during my formative years, In that regard THE DEVILS definitely takes the communion wafer.”

A singer, songwriter, Tony-nominated performer and painter, JUSTIN BOND has been writing, starring in and producing theatrical, cabaret and art events internationally for 20 years. Justin has been a contributing writer to Time Out New York, Out Magazine, Next and his own blog Justin Bond is Living at justinbond.com. In 2007 Bond was nominated for a Tony Award for Kiki and Herb: Alive on Broadway. Other notable endeavors include touring with avant-garde performance troupe The Big Art Group and appearing in the feature film Shortbus. Justin has been a thesis advisor for the MA program at SVA, taught Performance Composition at NYU and earned an MA in Scenography from Central St. Martins College in London in 2006. His latest EP Pink Slip is now available on iTunes.

• Country UK
• Rating X
• Year 1971
• Running Time 111 minutes
• Director Ken Russell

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.