Since its founding in 2000, Columbia’s Ragtag Cinema has been a home for queer art. The independent film house brings movies about LGBTQ+ people to Columbia every season, but this year, Ragtag is officially partnered with Mid-Missouri PrideFest.
From Thursday, Sept. 22 through Saturday, Sept. 24, Ragtag will play three pieces of historic queer cinema: the Wachowski sisters’ “Bound,” Patrick-Ian Polk’s “Punks” and John Cameron Mitchell’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”
Ragtag Cinema programmer Ted Rogers chose films for audiences to discover and remember. Cult classics like “Bound” and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” allow moviegoers to enjoy campy spectacles with a crowd, and the rarely seen “Punks” may grant a new favorite.
“Queer cinema has continued to be some of the most exciting stuff out there, simply because it is constantly challenging what already exists,” Rogers said. “That’s tearing apart heteronormative ideas of what a story should be or what we’re allowed to see on screen or how we can express ourselves.”
“Bound”
Dir. Lana and Lily Wachowski
Showtime: Thursday, September 22 at 10:00 p.m.
“Bound” combines queer cinema with heist films as ex-con woman Corky and mob wife Violet fall for one another and steal from the mob. The 1996 thriller gives audiences the chance to reevaluate the Wachowskis’ earlier filmography through a queer lens while experiencing the fast-paced lesbian thriller classic.
“It’s a pretty cool, pretty vicious flick,” Rogers said.
“Punks”
Dir. Patrick-Ian Polk
Showtime: Friday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m.Free Screening on 35 mm
“Punks” is a 2000 romantic comedy about a group of Black and gay friends living in Los Angeles. Never heard of it? After completing its film festival circuit 22 years ago, “Punks” never received a wide distribution due to music licensing disputes. In early 2022, the movie was shown on film for the first time in New York.
Mid-Missourians attending the Friday showing at Ragtag are among the first audiences to see “Punks” in 20 years. The showing aims to celebrate the history and progress of Black, queer filmmakers through the infrequently viewed movie.
“To have a straight ahead romantic comedy that is Black and gay for the year 2000, and frankly for right now still, is revolutionary,” Rogers said.
“Hedwig and the Angry Inch”
Dir. John Cameron Mitchell
Showtimes: September 24, 2022 at 10:00 p.m.Screening on 35 mm
Probably the most widely recognized movie in the lineup, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” closes out the Pride Fest films with a campy cult classic. Columbia Entertainment Company put up the musical adaptation of the 2001 indie flick last August and renewed interest for “Hedwig” in the local community. The film follows a punk-rock singer touring the United States and tells her life story.
“It’s a gender-queer, glam rock odyssey and a pretty important piece of indie movie history,” Rogers said.
Edited by Egan Ward | eward@themaneater.com
Copy Chief — Emily Rutledge | erutledge@themaneater.com