Fireworks

Although I really loved all of the films by Maya Deren last week, the one that really stood out in my mind was "Fireworks" by Kenneth Anger. To me, it took the issue of homosexuality in a hostile environment and created some both truly beautiful and truly disturbing images. I think this film was even more blatantly sexual than The Seashell and the Clergyman, but in a more aesthetically pleasing manner. For example, in the scene where the protagonist had milk being poured over him-- the sexual innuendo in this instance is actually pretty graphic and crude, but through the beauty of the image, Anger makes the scene hauntingly beautiful instead of offensive. Anger almost turns the protagonist into a martyr-like figure with his persecution and some of the imagery employed (for example, in the photograph where the sailor is carrying the protagonist; for me, it was very reminiscent of images of Jesus being taken down from the cross). I also thought it was very daring of Anger to take images that are such stereotypes (such as gay sailors) and employ them in such a surprisingly poignant and tragic manner.
His other film, however, pretty much confused me. I thought the images were beautiful and I thought it also maybe had to do with sexuality but honestly I had no idea. It was pretty though.