Women on Film: Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

In celebration of the first major retrospective of Cindy Sherman’s work in Canada for 20 years, the Vancouver Art Gallery has partnered with the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) to present a series of the internationally acclaimed artist’s favourite films, as selected by her.

For almost 50 years, Sherman has consistently explored the tension between identity and persona through the creation of characters that she assumes in each of her photographs. Her work, therefore, has always had a performative aspect, often reminiscent of movie types and suggestive of wider dramatic scenarios. Using make-up, wigs, costumes and other means to transform her appearance, Sherman draws on the iconography of old and new Hollywood, as well as fashion advertising, historical painting and contemporary portraiture, to suggest the myriad ways women project themselves into the world. This short film series is meant to complement and extend that investigation.

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
Friday December 28, 2 PM
“Russ Meyer’s Beyond The Valley of the Dolls is an outrageously entertaining cult classic, and probably one of the most bizarre movies ever produced by a major Hollywood studio… In addition to a cast of former-Playboy models and other non-actors delivering film critic Roger Ebert’s mind-boggling dialogue (‘You will drink the black sperm of my vengeance’), there are wild orgies, drug parties, Nazi butlers and a gruesome Manson-like massacre that reaches a manic pitch of surreal hysteria… A funny, psychedelic time-capsule.” – TV Guide

Also Playing:
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
Saturday December 27, 2 PM

Under the Skin
Sunday December 29, 2 PM