Escape From Rented Island: The Lost Paradise of Jack Smith

In his essay film, Jerry Tartaglia, longtime archivist and restorer of the film estate of queer New York underground, experimental film, and performance legend Jack Smith, deals less with Smith’s life than with his work, analyzing Smith’s aesthetic idiosyncrasies in 21 thematic chapters. It's a film essay about the artist’s work, rather than a documentary about his life. An unmediated vision of Jack Smith, an invitation to join him in his lost paradise.

Directed by Jerry Tartaglia

Images

Cast

Jack Smith

Himself (archive footage)

Mario Montez

Himself (archive footage)

Beverly Grant

Herself (archive footage)

Tony Conrad

Himself (archive footage)

Agosto Machado

Himself (archive footage)

Francis Francine

Himself (archive footage)

Irving Rosenthal

Himself (archive footage)

Tally Brown

Herself (archive footage)

Mary Waronor

Herself (archive footage)

Tiny Tim

Himself (archive footage)

Related

Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction

20136.9out of 10

Harmontown

20146.6out of 10

The Curse of the Dragon

19937.2out of 10

I Am Heath Ledger

20177.4out of 10

Drew: The Man Behind the Poster

20137.0out of 10

Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20

20227.2out of 10

Come See Me in the Good Light

20257.2out of 10

A Decade Under the Influence

20037.9out of 10

Heart of a Dog

20156.5out of 10

The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story

20197.3out of 10

Naqoyqatsi

20026.2out of 10

Looking for Richard

19966.8out of 10

My Mom Jayne

20258.0out of 10

The Last Repair Shop

20247.5out of 10

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood

20185.9out of 10

Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin

20037.0out of 10