Join GP Surgery and Soft Limit Cinema in The Atrium Bar for a special Valentine’s Day Weekend event titled ‘Voluptus Obscena’ (latin for ‘Obscene Pleasure’), a night of exploring Queer pleasure, pain, and kink in experimental film and healing through Implied pleasure.
Our main film of the evening, shown digitally courtesy of LUX Moving Image archive, is Swiss Director Cleo Übelmann’s 1986 film “Mano Destra” (italian for “Right Hand”), a lesbian avant-garde art film about erotic objectification and gratification through consensual bondage. Featuring a thrilling soundtrack by Swiss electro-wave band The Vyllies, “Mano Destra” is a thrilling showcase of lesbian erotica and BDSM with Cleo Übelmann starring in the film herself as a dominatrix.
We will also be screening some mystery short experimental films that reflect the themes of kink, pain, and unconventional gratification; including a 16mm short film print from the LUX Moving Image archive projected by Film Projectionist John Wilders. We’ll also have some exciting and topical raffle prizes!
About the curators:
GP Surgery is a film collective founded by Jaison Washington (he/they) who is an independent film curator, archivist at LUX Moving Image, researcher, and filmmaker based in London. GP Surgery specialises in Experimental Film and Artist Moving Image as a means of catharsis, healing, and challenging our audience.
Soft Limit Cinema is a film programming collective founded by Jack Hewitt (he/him), dedicated to examining sexual representation in cinema across a wide variety of genres. Approaching each film without moral or thematic bias, Soft Limit Cinema seeks to create a safe, inclusive space to discuss topics often considered taboo.
Jack is an independent film programmer and critic based in London. His writing has appeared in Radio Times, Next Best Picture, Filmhounds, TakeOne Cinema, and The New Black Film Collective.
Content Warnings:
Some films may contain strobing lights and flashing imagery for photosensitive and epileptic viewers.
Please note that whilst The Garden Cinema is wheelchair accessible, the cinema can only accommodate one wheelchair user in the Atrium.
Please visit The Garden Cinema’s accessibility page for more information about how to book this.