An older Black man stares at the camera. He holds a smoking cigarette in his left hand and has round, black rimmed spectacles on.

Portrait Of Jason

Event

About Portrait Of Jason

Shirley Clarke’s avant garde 1967 documentary Portrait of Jason asks whether a subject can ever truly be their authentic self on camera. Here Clarke does away with narration, montage cutting or explanatory text and simply allows Jason, an African American gay hustler from New York to speak unedited about his loves and disappointments.

He’s a fascinating personality, often donning elaborate hats or feather boas as he monologues the story of his life. ‘Everyone in New York has a gimmick, so I found out that mine was hustling,’ Jason delivers with a cocktail in one hand and a smouldering cigarette in the other. If you like Grey Gardens or The Naked Civil Servant, this film is very much for you.

Part of I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way - a season of rarely screened documentaries from the LGBTQ+ archives which have been chosen by associate programmer Elaine Lillian Joseph.

Booking info

To book Accessible tickets and free Companion tickets, please visit our Accessible Bookings page. Companion tickets will initially show a standard ticket price, but once your account is set-up and you are logged in, this will be reduced to £0 at checkout.

Duration includes trailers, adverts and any Q&A/panel. For events such as NT Live, Colour Box and Reel & Meal there will be minimal advertising. We do not admit latecomers after the main feature has started and we have a limited food & drink policy.

MAC’s cinema programme has been generously supported by BFI Film Audience Network and Film Hub Midlands.

Dates and times

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