“Beautiful, sexy, funny and tragic, with its all-women cast and sole focus on female sexuality it is clear evidence that mainstream cinema's aversion to strong women as the center of a film is hackneyed, dull, and simply false.” - Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, The Blue Lenses
“A meticulously choreographed erotic theatre.” - Wendy Ide, Times
“Peter Strickland's sumptuous, all-female S&M fable is the director's greatest film to date.” - Katherine McLaughlin, Little White Lies
Monday, February 19, 6:00 p.m. | In Strickland's mesmerizing and critically acclaimed THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, the intimate relationship between Cynthia, a lepidopterist, and her submissive lover Evelyn unfolds against the sumptuous backdrop of a decaying European estate. As the two women navigate the extremes of carnal desire and Strickland deftly blurs the boundary between reality and role-playing, Evelyn's insatiable appetite for punishment pushes the relationship to its limits. Enveloped in a gauzy, Gothic atmosphere, and complemented by a lush pop score from Cat’s Eyes, this darkly comic erotic fantasia, with a singular focus on female sexuality, is a seductive feast for the senses.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Best Actress (Sidse Babett Knudsen), Torino Film Festival
Nominee - Best Feature Film, Torino Film Festival
Nominee - Best Film, London Film Festival
Hot & Heavy: Leave your inhibitions at the door and unclutch your pearls: the Film Center’s screens are sizzling with the 10 sexually liberated films of Hot & Heavy. A carnal exploration of desire, passion, and physical dexterity, Hot & Heavy encourages audiences to indulge in the erotic—not as forbidden fruit, but in a celebratory embrace of what turns us on in a safe space that respectfully recognizes the cinematic power of all things bodily bawdy. Content consideration: these films contain explicit sexual content (obviously). View full series.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu