Chain Letters [efilm]
2019
Streaming Video
Made in Manhattan during the worst early depths of the AIDS epidemic, this LA RONDE-style series of twosomes and threesomes never directly mentions that crisis. But the intricately interconnecting relationships glimpsed in mosaic-like shards here exist in a similarly embattled milieu, an urban war zone: war between the sexes (or perhaps between the urges toward and against any kind of intimacy). With Tin Pan Alley standard "Taking a Chance on Love" as ironic theme song, Rappaport's characters reach out to one another but might get their hand bitten off as thanks. Among them are a Vietnam vet (Mark Arnott) with paranoid hallucinations; an emasculating ex-soap opera actress (Marilyn Jones) whose tender side comes out only when she sees herself in TV reruns; a gay man (Reed Birney) whose involvement with a straight hustler proves more than either of them can handle. As is this singular writer-director's way, the drama is elliptical, the comedy slyly in-jokey and the narrative can run any which way, encompassing a lecture on sharks, campy medical horror, double-team prostitutes and yes, actual chain letters. Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
Main title:
Author:
Rappaport, Mark, film directorArnott, Mark, actorBrisbin, David, actorBirney, Reed, actorMark Rappaport (Firm), distributorKanopy (Firm), distributor
Work:
Imprint:
Mark Rappaport, 1985.[San Francisco, California, USA] : Kanopy Streaming, 2019.
Collation:
1 online resource (streaming video file) (96 minutes): digital, .flv file, sound
Notes:
Title from title frames.FilmIn Process Record.Originally produced by Mark Rappaport in 1985.In English
Performers:
Mark Arnott, David Brisbin, Reed Birney
System details:
Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Language:
English
BRN:
630416
Electronic access: