Interior. Leather Bar

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When William Friedkin’s film Cruising was screened in competition at the Berlinale in 1980 it unleashed a wave of controversy – and not just at the festival. Gay activists accused the film, in which Al Pacino plays an undercover cop investigating a case inNew York’s gay and leather scene, of stirring up homophobic stereotypes. Moreover, forty minutes of allegedly overly explicit scenes were deleted in order tosecure a less restricted rating for the film’s release. Oscar-nominated actor James Franco and Travis Mathews have made it their mission to restage this missing and bynow legendary forty minutes. The film constitutes the making-of one scene shot in a New York leather and bar before the on slaught of Aids and focuses on Val, who plays Al Pacino’s role. Heterosexual Hollywood actor Val has strong reservations about appearing in agay film. Skirting the border between reality and fiction, Interior. Leather Bar. explores Hollywood’s homophobic mechanisms and examines prevalent clichés.

details

  • Runtime

    60 min
  • Country

    United States
  • Year of Presentation

    2013
  • Year of Production

    2013
  • Director

    James Franco, Travis Mathews
  • Cast

    Val Lauren, Christian Patrick, James Franco
  • Production Company

    Rabbit Bandini
  • Berlinale Section

    Panorama
  • Berlinale Category

Biography James Franco

Born in Palo Alto, California in 1978, he is an actor, director, screenwriter and producer. He won many accolades for his performance in the title role of the TV movie JAMES DEAN and in feature films MILK and 127 HOURS. He has also appeared in, amongst others, SPIDER-MAN 1, 2 and 3. In 2010 his shorts FEAST OF STEPHEN and HERBERT WHITE screened in the Panorama.

Filmography James Franco

2005 Fool’s Gold | 2005 The Ape | 2007 Good Time Max | 2009 42 One Dream Rush | 2010 Masculinity & Me | 2010 Saturday Night | 2010 Herbert White | 2010 The Clerk’s Tale | 2011 The Broken Tower | 2011 Sal | 2012 My Own Private River | 2012 Dream | 2012 Black Dog, Red Dog

Biography Travis Mathews

Born in Ohio, USA in 1975, this director, screenwriter, editor and producer with a background in psychology has primarily concentrated on topics such as masculinity and intimacy between homosexual men. He collaborated with James Franco on the docu-fiction Interior.Leather Bar which screened at over 75 international festivals, including the Berlinale and in Rotterdam. His 2012 debut feature film I Want Your Love about a group of gay friends in San Francisco premiered at the Frameline Film Festival and has been shown at numerous other international festivals.

Filmography Travis Mathews

2005 Do I Look Fat | 2009 In Their Room San Francisco | 2010 I Want Your Love | 2011 In Their Room Berlin | 2012 I Want Your Love | 2013 In Their Room London | 2013 Interior. Leather Bar.