In Character

In Character, a program of more than 65 films featuring fascinating female characters to complement the Cindy Sherman exhibition, is screening at GOMA Cinémathèque until Aug 28.

With Sherman’s photography of herself in many guises, covering Hollywood stereotypes, society portraits, fashion socialites and even clowns, it’s a great opportunity for GOMA to show these films that showcase and reveal how female identity has been moulded via cultural expression.

Audiences can see cinematic classics such as 1966’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with Elizabeth Taylor’s powerful performance, Gloria Swanson in Sunset boulevard (1950), Faye Dunaway in the controversial Mommie Dearest (1981) and Scarlett Johansson in 2013’s challenging Under The Skin. Says José Da Silva (Head of the Cinémathèque), “Audiences will see some of Hollywood’s most fearless actresses deliver unforgettable portrayals of women in art and daily life.”

In Character’s areas of focus are:

•    Hollywood Babylon, which looks at ideas of fame and infamy and covers subjects like celebrity, female rivalry and obsessions with age and glamor
•    The Lady of the House – domestic-based narratives and psychological and physical captivity (e.g. Catherine Deneuve in 1965’s Repulsion and Essie Davis in The Babadook, 2014)
•    Dangerous Relations, with the depiction of difficult and unconventional relationships (e.g. 1945’s Mildred Pierce, 1971’s Harold and Maude)
•    Women in Revolt, where women behave badly and find freedom by rejecting social expectations (e.g. Mae West in 1933’s I’m No Angel and Cindy Sherman’s directorial debut, Office Killer, 1977).

There’ll also be a one-off presentation of that fabulously successful TV sitcom, Absolutely Fabulous, video montages of Australian artist Tracey Moffatt that mine classic Hollywood cinema to create ironic commentaries about mothers, servants, love, lust and revenge, plus a series of live Variety Hours focussed around women, comedy and TV.

All up, it promises to be a fascinating few months of stimulating entertainment that’s sure to get many conversations going. More information & full program HERE

BOOK TICKETS HERE

By Vicki Englund