-
Always For Pleasure Image by Michael P. Smith 24 x 18 inches 10-color silkscreen Signed, limited Edition -
Sale!
Renowned Art Car artist Harrod Blank’s camera-covered van breaks down near Albuquerque, NM. The only mechanic capable of fixing it is local drag racer and machining savant Russell “Rusty” Tidenberg. Rusty recently began to transition by getting breasts. While Rusty works, Harrod learns that Rusty’s boss (father) cut his pay, his biker friends rejected him, and women won’t date him now. Struck by his story, Harrod films Rusty for eight years. Other gender-non-binary Art Car artists that Harrod meets shed further light on gender identity in America. The film follows Rusty on this difficult journey of embracing and exhibiting both genders, while still hoping for acceptance, and love. -
Includes:- Automorphosis (77-minute feature film)
- Driving The Dream (31-minute film)
- Director's Commentary
- Closed Captioning
- Extra Footage & Uncut Scenes
-
Sale!
Zydeco (1984) Produced and directed by Nick Spitzer. An enduring ethnographic portrait of zydeco’s beloved musical families and their Creole identity as seen at home, in local clubs, at work and running Mardi Gras. With the Carrière Brothers, “Bois Sec” Ardoin, John Delafose and Delton Broussard. English narration, with interviews in Louisiana French. English subtitles. 57 minutes. ISBN 0-933621-35-3. -
Sale!
Turumba (1983) Set in a tiny Philippine village, the inimitable Kidlat Tahimik's film focuses on a family that makes paper-mache animals to sell during the traditional Turumba festivities. One year, a department store buyer purchases all their stock. When she returns with an order for 500 more (this time with the word "Oktoberfest" painted on them), the family's seasonal occupation becomes year-round alienated labor. 94 minutes. ISBN: 0-933621-29-9. -
On the sun-baked Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico lies of the town of Juchitán, whose population of indigenous Zapotecs have for centuries warded off numerous invasions to preserve their identity. Today, Juchitan has an additional, more notorious identity, as a “queer paradise” famous for its Muxes (pronounced “mossshays”), effeminate homosexual men whose socially defined role within the Zapotec culture pre-dates the advent of gay liberation. The Muxes of Juchitán are proud of their identity, enjoy their lives, laugh at themselves as well as at “straight” society, and admit their own foibles freely. They call themselves “Authentic, Intrepid Seekers of Danger,” and have banded together to lead the fight against AIDS in Oaxaca. They talk frankly about their experiences of acceptance and rejection, and their successes in finding freedom, love and delight in their special identity. The Muxes of Juchitán are proud of their identity, enjoy their lives, laugh at themselves as well as at “straight” society and admit their own foibles freely. They call themselves “Authentic, Intrepid Seekers of Danger” and have banded together to lead the fight against AIDS in Oaxaca. They talk frankly about their experiences of acceptance and rejection, and their successes in finding freedom, love and delight in their special identity. Directed by Alejandra Islas 105 min. 2005 Color More About MUXES. -
Sale!
Seven Second Love Affair (1965) -
Sale!
Perfumed Nightmare (1978) Produced and directed by Kidlat Tahimik, this brilliant semi-autobiographical fable tells the story of a young Filipino born in 1942 (during the Occupation), his awakening to, and reaction against, American cultural colonialism. In his small village, Kidlat dreams of Cape Canaveral and listens to the Voice of America; he's even the president of his village's Werner Von Braun fan club. Winner of the Berlin Film Festival International Critics Award and a Blue Ribbon at the American Film Festival. 91 minutes ISBN: 0-933621-28-0 -
Here Comes Everybody (1961) A Short student film by David Lawrence, starring Les Blank. -
NOTE:- For U.S. educational sales and theatrical, please contact Janus Films: (booking at janus films dot com)
- For international and all other rights please contact: Les Blank FilmsHome DVD Includes:
- Bonus short "The Maestro Rides Again"
- A 30 minute update on the Maestro's artwork.
-
Sale!
Chulas Fronteras, Del Mero Corazon, plus 30 minutes of bonus footage, (with some historical perspective about major artists) were digitally remastered to 4K in 2018. The DVD and BluRay include a commentary audio track made by Chris Strachwitz, Les Blank and Maureen Gosling in 2003 when this package of “Roots of Tex-Mex Music” was originally edited and released on DVDs. (The audio commentary does not show up in the menu but can generally be found using your DVD or BluRay player’s access to audio tracks.) -
Sale!
NOTE:- For U.S. educational sales and theatrical, please contact Janus Films: (booking at janus films dot com)
- For international and all other rights please contact: Les Blank Films
-
Sale!
Six Short Films of Les Blank (1960-1985) Anthology of six short films, including: Full run time, 90 minutes For individual descriptions, and run times, see title links above. -
Sale!
NOTE:- For U.S. educational sales and theatrical, please contact Janus Films: (booking at janus films dot com)
- For international theatrical rights please contact: Les Blank Films
-
Wild Wheels (1992) Harrod Blank's comic and revealing exploration of Art Cars -- customized automobiles which reflect the individualistic spirit of their drivers. Traveling across the country in his own wildly decorated VW bug, the filmmaker discovers a memorable cast of real-life characters obsessed with transforming their cars into mobile works of art. Available in the 64-minute Director's Cut, or the 56-minute broadcast version, containing no objectionable language. ISBN: 0-933621-48-5. DVD includes: the Original Version, the PBS Version, plus Commentary, Spanish Language, Closed Captions, and Out Takes -
Wild Wheels (1992) Harrod Blank's comic and revealing exploration of Art Cars -- customized automobiles which reflect the individualistic spirit of their drivers. Traveling across the country in his own wildly decorated VW bug, the filmmaker discovers a memorable cast of real-life characters obsessed with transforming their cars into mobile works of art. Available in the 64-minute Director's Cut, or the 56-minute broadcast version, containing no objectionable language. ISBN: 0-933621-48-5. DVD includes: the Original Version, the PBS Version, plus Commentary, Spanish Language, Closed Captions, and Out Takes
-
The Story of Anna O: A Study on Hysteria (1979) Dramatizes the psychological history of Anna O., whose case catalyzed Sigmund Freud's development of his theory on the origins of hysteria and ultimately laid the groundwork for his psychological practice. 19 minutes. by Terrell Seltzer -
PLEASE NOTE: This box set is only available from our website for HOME use. If you wish to purchase this collection for a school or library please contact: CriterionOverview
An uncompromisingly independent filmmaker, Les Blank (Burden of Dreams) made documentaries for nearly fifty years, elegantly disappearing with his camera into cultural spots rarely seen on-screen—mostly on the peripheries of the United States, but also occasionally abroad. Seemingly off-the-cuff yet poetically constructed, these films are humane, sometimes wry, always engaging tributes to musicians, food, and all sorts of regionally specific delights. This collector’s set put out by Criterion (see review) provides a diverse survey of Les Blank’s vast output, including the warmly funny The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins, about the legendary Texas musician; Always for Pleasure, which captures the vivacious spirit of New Orleans; Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers, a hilarious celebration of the pungent, flavorful “stinking rose” of the title; and eleven other unexpected features, plus eight of Blank’s short films. FILMS INCLUDED:Box Set contains 14 Les Blank films remastered by Criterion (average price $6.25 per film!)
A Well Spent Life (1971) Always for Pleasure (1978) Dry Wood (1973) Gap-Toothed Women (1987) Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers (1980) God Respects Us When We Work, but Loves Us When We Dance (1968) Hot Pepper (1973) In Heaven There Is No Beer? (1984) Spend It All (1971) Sprout Wings and Fly (1983) Sworn to the Drum (1995) The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins (1968) The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists (1994) Yum, Yum, Yum (1990)
DVD SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
• New 2K digital restorations of all fourteen films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks • Excerpt from Les Blank: A Quiet Revelation, an upcoming documentary by Gina Leibrecht and Harrod Blank • New interviews with director Les Blank’s sons, Harrod and Beau; Blank documentary subject Gerald Gaxiola (a.k.a. the Maestro); filmmakers Skip Gerson, Maureen Gosling, Taylor Hackford, Tom Luddy, and Chris Simon; and chef and author Alice Waters • Blank’s short films Lightnin’ Les (1968), Mr. Charlie, Your Rollin’ Mill Is Burnin’ Down (1968), The Sun’s Gonna Shine (1968), More Fess (1978), Julie: Old Time Tales of the Blue Ridge (1991), My Old Fiddle: A Visit with Tommy Jarrell in the Blue Ridge (1995), and The Maestro Rides Again (2005) • PLUS: An essay by film scholar Andrew HortonProduct Details
Release Date: 11/25/2014 UPC: 715515119511 Rating: Source: Criterion Region Code: 1 Presentation: Special Edition / Restored / Subtitled / Colorized Language: English Time: 9:23:00 Format: DVD This is a home use license (not for public screenings) -
PLEASE NOTE: This box set is only available from our website for HOME use. If you wish to purchase this collection for a school or library please contact: Jon Mulvaney at Criterion.Overview
An uncompromisingly independent filmmaker, Les Blank (Burden of Dreams) made documentaries for nearly fifty years, elegantly disappearing with his camera into cultural spots rarely seen on-screen—mostly on the peripheries of the United States, but also occasionally abroad. Seemingly off-the-cuff yet poetically constructed, these films are humane, sometimes wry, always engaging tributes to musicians, food, and all sorts of regionally specific delights. This collector’s set put out by criterion (see review) provides a diverse survey of Les Blank’s vast output, including the warmly funny, The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins, about the legendary Texas musician; Always for Pleasure, which captures the vivacious spirit of New Orleans; Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers, a hilarious celebration of the pungent, flavorful “stinking rose” of the title; and eleven other unexpected features, plus eight of Blank’s short films. FILMS INCLUDED: A Well Spent Life (1971) Always for Pleasure (1978) Dry Wood (1973) Gap-Toothed Women (1987) Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers (1980 God Respects Us When We Work, but Loves Us When We Dance (1968) Hot Pepper (1973) In Heaven There Is No Beer? (1984) Spend It All (1971) Sprout Wings and Fly (1983) Sworn to the Drum (1995) The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins (1968) The Maestro: King of the Cowboy Artists (1994) Yum, Yum, Yum (1990)BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES
• New 2K digital restorations of all fourteen films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks • Excerpt from Les Blank: A Quiet Revelation, an upcoming documentary by Gina Leibrecht and Harrod Blank • New interviews with director Les Blank’s sons, Harrod and Beau; Blank documentary subject Gerald Gaxiola (a.k.a. the Maestro); filmmakers Skip Gerson, Maureen Gosling, Taylor Hackford, Tom Luddy, and Chris Simon; and chef and author Alice Waters • Blank’s short films Lightnin’ Les (1968), Mr. Charlie, Your Rollin’ Mill Is Burnin’ Down (1968), The Sun’s Gonna Shine (1968), More Fess (1978), Julie: Old Time Tales of the Blue Ridge (1991), My Old Fiddle: A Visit with Tommy Jarrell in the Blue Ridge (1995), and The Maestro Rides Again (2005) • PLUS: An essay by film scholar Andrew HortonProduct Details
Release Date: 11/25/2014 UPC: 715515119412 Rating: Source: Criterion Region Code: A Presentation: Special Edition / Restored Time: 9:23:00 Format: Blu-ray This is a home use license (not for public screenings)
