John Waters Is Spreading His Filth
The British Film Institute in London toasts 50 years of cinematic filth with a retrospective dedicated to the one-and-only John Waters, he who even found time to tarnish the oh-so-sterling reputation of the fashion world as host of the CFDA Awards. All of his films — from gross-out early filth to slightly more sophisticated later filth — will be screened. Because Divine’s racier scenes in Pink Flamingos (1972) and Female Trouble (1974) really have to be seen in full-size at some point in a person’s life, not to mention still-adorable Johnny Depp hamming it up in Cry Baby (1990) or Kathleen Turner indulging in a campy murder spree in Serial Mom (1994). Even Waters’ earliest projects, his short films from the 60s, will hit the big screen.
The Pope of Trash himself will introduce a number of these screenings, plus take to the BFI stage on September 18 for what promises to be a lively discussion of his repertoire. He’s also hand-selected a number of indie British films to be shown in a side series, Teabaggin’ in the Kitchen Sink, including Boom! (Joseph Losey, 1968) and Blue (Derek Jarman, 1993).
“This tribute is like receiving a plenary indulgence from the movie gods above,” Waters said, “and for once I can be showbiz thrilled without the slightest drop of irony in my thanks. Yikes, respectability…the final outrage.”
John Waters Retrospective , September 1 – October 6, 2015, British Film Institute Southbank, London
Watch the original 1972 trailer for Pink Flamingos…
