The Films of the Kuchar Brothers

Twin brothers from The Bronx, Mike and George Kuchar created a do-it-yourself cinematic style that celebrates the common man but does so in style oozing with “kitchen sink” Hollywood excess. Starting in the mid-50s with a string of shorts shot on the regular-8 format, they switched to 16mm around 1965 and began making their own films. George sadly passed away in 2011, so Little Joe, a magazine about queers and cinema, mostly, have teamed up with Copenhagen-based Jack Stevenson to honour both brothers, presenting a selection of their work from Jack’s own 16mm collection.

Titles include:

Hold Me While I’m Naked (1966) Playful satire of motion picture making that leads to existential contemplations on the meaning of life.

The Secret of Wendell Samson (1966) A personal story of inner turmoil is told in the vocabulary of science fiction, expressionism and pop-fantasy which is entertaining yet sincere and soberly conceived. The Craven Sluck (1967) About the sordid domestic routines of a typical Bronx married couple, Adel and her office worker husband, Brunswick.

Mongreloid (1978) A tribute to George’s dog, Bocko, who appeared in so many of the brothers’ films and was undoubtedly the best known dog in underground cinema.

Format: 16mm. 2 reels. Optical sound.

This evening of 16mm schlock and glamour is part of Scalarama, and is presented in association with Vivid Projects. Tickets cost £6 and are available here.