March-December, 2023, the Leather Archives & Museum celebrates non-normative intimacy and art
with a new monthly screening series, Fetish Film Forum.
Purchase Tickets Here
Perspectives on fetish, kink, leather, and BDSM are as numerous as the people in these communities, and the ten erotic films in this series, spanning nine countries and six decades, explore various points of view on the
sexual practice and art of fetish and kink, bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadism and masochism. Cinema is a fetish for the moving image, a form of roleplay for the actors, and an experience of
voyeurism for the viewer, and Fetish Film Forum celebrates the power of film to realize humanity’s innermost desires.
Screenings include Secretary (2002), a whimsical comedy-drama about a woman who discovers the joys of submission; Belle de Jour (1967), starring Catherine Deneuve
as a housewife who uses sex work to explore her sexual fantasies; Pleasure (2021), the story of a young woman who travels from Sweden to Los Angeles in search of porn stardom;
Querelle (1982), Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s spectacular adaptation of the novel by Jean Genet; Shortbus (2006), an empowering whirlwind of polyamory by the director of
Hedwig and the Angry Inch; In the Realm of the Senses (1976), an erotic art film inspired by the true story of geisha and sex worker Sada Abe;
Cruising (1980), William Friedkin’s controversial slasher about a killer who targets gay men in NYC; Hellraiser (1987), Clive Barker’s horror classic involving
leather-clad beings who relish suffering; The Handmaiden (2016), a twisty erotic thriller by internationally acclaimed director Park Chan-wook; and
Cristiana: Devil Nun (1972), a campy nunsploitation romp for the holidays.
Be the first to answer our trivia questions in the introductions to these screenings, and win a fantastic pornographic film on Blu-ray, courtesy of
Altered Innocence
, or other treasures!
All screenings will be introduced by local film programmer John McDevitt, and they’ll be joined by numerous guest co-presenters throughout the year. Stay after the shows for free post-screening discussions to share your
thoughts about these extraordinary films!
This series was programmed by John McDevitt in cooperation with the Leather Archives & Museum. John is a lifelong cinephile who currently works as Community Engagement Manager at FACETS, the non-profit film
organization in Chicago’s Lincoln Park.
TICKETING
Single Ticket: $10/General, or $8/LA&M Members & Students
5-Film Pass: $40/General, or $35/LA&M Members & Students
Purchase your Single Tickets or 5-Film Pass here
Must be 18 years of age or older.
SERIES FILMS
Secretary (2002) – Saturday, March 18 @ 7pm
Directed by Steven Shainberg, USA, 107 mins
Belle de Jour (1967) – Saturday, April 15 @ 7pm
Directed by Luis Buñuel, France, 101 mins
Pleasure (2021) – Saturday, May 20 @ 7pm
Directed by Ninja Thyberg, Sweden, 105 mins
Querelle (1982) – Saturday, June 17 @ 7pm
Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, West Germany, 108 mins
Co-presented by Foul Monkeys Podcast
Shortbus (2006) – Saturday, July 15 @ 7pm
Directed by John Cameron Mitchell, Canada, 101 mins
Co-presented by Pride Film Fest
In the Realm of the Senses (1976) – Saturday, August 19 @ 7pm
Directed by Nagisa Ōshima, Japan, 108 mins
Co-presented by Asian Pop-Up Cinema
Cruising (1980) – Saturday, September 16 @ 7pm
Directed by William Friedkin, USA, 102 mins
Co-presented by Stephanie Sack of Giallo Gelato
Hellraiser (1987) – Saturday, October 21 @ 7pm
Directed by Clive Barker, United Kingdom, 93 mins
Co-presented by Brian Kirst of Big Gay Horror Fan
The Handmaiden (2016) – Saturday, November 18 @ 7pm
Directed by Park Chan-wook, South Korea, 144 mins
Co-presented by Gerber/Hart Library & Archives
Cristiana: Devil Nun (1972) – Saturday, December 16 @ 7pm
Directed by Sergio Bergonzelli, Italy, 102 mins
Co-presented by Corinne Halbert of Acid Nun
