Review of Portrait of Jason (1967) by Kian L — 10 Sep 2007

JASON! it was a hard task to find a film,.

So special, so unique for film history, yet rather unknown. a milestone of black gay cinema perhaps, made during the first years of the black liberation movement, before stonewall and before all the other "first" "gay".

Films, but directed by a white woman, who also was a dancer, mainly with.

Martha graham and with jonas mekas co-founder of the film-makers.

Cooperative, meanwhile the world's biggest distributor for independent and.

Avant-garde movies. a documentary film that redefined documentaries, a.

Pioneer of the cinema verite, which doesn't really deserve this title.

Because of ist protagonist's will to perform: a black man with a pair of.

Thick black glasses, who needs no more than a hat to transform himself into.

Mae west. ingmar bergmans favourite film, a film that could have been shot.

By warhol, if ist superstar wouldn't happen to be poor, black, truly.

Talented and genuinely funny, a no-go for the thoroughly white factory gang.

Of spoilt daughters and their adorers. shirley clarke and her crew filmed a.

Whole night, or let's say, as long as the material lasted that she had.

Somehow got her hands on, her friend jason holliday, born aaron payne, an.

Aging black hustler, getting more and more drunk and stoned during the.

Interview, a mesmerizing piece of performance, an intimate cinematic.

Experience which lives off jasons readiness to unpack every - every! -.

Detail out of himself, a fascinating PORTRAIT OF JASON (usa 1967).