QUEER CINEMA
Swan Song 12
USA | 2021 | 105 minutes
DIRECTED BY
Todd Stephens
STARRING
Udo Kier|Jennifer Coolidge|Linda Evans
We last saw Udo Kier in Bacurau (2019), set in Brazilian village of that name, where he played the violent hard-man leader of a bunch of assassins. Following a career filled with the roles of eccentric, flamboyant characters (including vampires), here he is again as a very camp, very gay hairdresser, Pat Pitsenbarger. In the story, his professional life as a coiffeur is long behind him, but he responds to an unusual request to do a hair and make-up job on a corpse – that of a long-time rival and one-time friend who needs to look her best at her funeral. Said corpse is played by Linda Evans, who graced our TV screens back in the 1980s as Krystle Carrington in Dynasty. Suffice to say, this is a non-speaking part.
Pat’s journey to do his work is long and arduous, achieved mainly on foot. So, it’s a kind of road movie, giving him the chance to reflect on his life and to meet again some of his old friends and colleagues. One of these is played by Jennifer Coolidge as Dee Dee Dale. Later, from a friend who runs a vintage clothing store, he purchases a very fancy outfit in readiness for his arrival at the funeral home. His adventures provide plenty of amusement, tinged with some sadness: Pat himself is not in the best of health, but determined to complete his mission.
This Udo Kier’s film, but not his swan song. Since it was released, he has acted in numerous films and TV productions, with more in the pipeline. He will reach 80 this year. And, by the way, yes, he is gay, never closeted, but never feeling the need to make a big deal of it.
25 November 2024 MONDAY 19:30
GREEN ROOM BAR
Tickets £7.00|£5.00 (25 or less) CONCESSION NOT AVAILABLE ONLINE