Hard Light Cinema

“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person… Give him a mask and he’ll tell you the truth.”

Todd Haynes’ glam rock fantasia Velvet Goldmine has been electrifying audiences since 1998. An examination, celebration, and at times a condemnation of the glam rock movement of the 1970s, Haynes’ film struggled to find success upon its initial release. In the years since, it’s become a cult favorite and has more than stood the test of time.

Originally this was intended to be a film explicitly about David Bowie, but Haynes was threatened with a lawsuit if he named Bowie directly and was refused access to Bowie’s catalog. As is often the case with genuine creatives, Haynes managed to turn this limitation into the film’s advantage. The movie shifted from being About the rock star to being about the Myth of the rock star, as well as the role that fans play in shaping this myth.

Christian Bale, in a rare performance using his British accent, playa Arthur, a journalist investigating what happened to Bisexual Glam Rock Legend, Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Myers). In a setup lovingly lifted from Citizen Kane, Arthur interviews those who knew Slade best to piece together the truth.

Lacking a proper Blu-ray release & rarely streaming, Velvet Goldmine has become a myth unto itself for queer cinephiles. Hard Light is excited to screen this absolute classic at Tilt Creative + Production! We hope you’ll be able to join us for this free Pride Month screening!

Seating will be limited, so RSVP early!