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REVENGE OF THE MEKONS, NEW DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE CULT ROCK GROUP, SCREENING AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY’S RYDER FILM SERIES APRIL 10-13
ANNOUNCE FREE ENTRY FOR ANYONE WHO POSTS ANTI-DISCRIMINATORY HASHTAGS AGAINST RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACT |
After a successful run at New York’s Film Forum, Joe Angio’s exuberant documentary, REVENGE OF THE MEKONS, will be screening at Indiana University’s Ryder Film Series April 10-13. Showtimes and locations are listed below.
In light of Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act – which allows business owners to discriminate against gay, lesbian, and transgendered people on religious grounds – anyone who posts the anti-discriminatory hashtag #WeAreIndiana along with #MekonsMovie on The Ryder’s Twitter (@RyderFilmSeries) or Facebook page (The Ryder Magazine and Film Series) will gain free entry for the three nights the film is playing.
“Pulling the Indiana University screenings to protest the state’s new discriminatory ‘religious freedom’ law would only prevent like-minded students in one of the state’s liberal bastions from seeing it,” director Joe Angio said. “So instead we are using social media to spread a positive message of support for the LGBT community.”
“The Ryder Film Series has screened GLBT-themed films and partnered with GLBT organizations for many years,” said The Ryder owner Peter Lopilato. “Despite the mean-spirited attempts to codify bigotry at the Statehouse this week, we would like to remind everyone that Bloomington, Indiana, where the screenings will take place, has a long history of protecting human rights, starting with the Human Rights Commission created in 1970. Sexual orientation and gender identity were added as protected classes in the city code in 1993 and 2006, respectively.”
Screenings:
Friday, April 10 7:45pm @ IU Fine Arts
Saturday, April 11 4:45pm & 7:45pm @ IU Fine Arts
Sunday, April 12 7:00pm @ Bear’s Place
Additional U.S. screenings here.
ABOUT THE MEKONS According to renowned music critic Lester Bangs, “The Mekons are the most revolutionary group in the history of rock ‘n’ roll. They are also the finest artists ever to have graced this admittedly somewhat degenerate form with the grace of their aesthetic sensibilities, rarefied as a glimpse through a butterfly’s wing.” A genre-defying collective that emerged from the 1977 British punk scene, the Mekons progressed from a group of socialist art students from Leeds (England) with no musical skills to the prolific, raucous progeny of Hank Williams. The film follows their improbable history – a surprising and influential embrace of folk and country music, forays into the art world (collaborations with Vito Acconci and Kathy Acker), and consistent bad luck with major record labels. Among the celebrated fans who appear on screen to testify to the power of their music and their artistic innovations are authors Jonathan Franzen (The Corrections) and Luc Sante (Low Life), musician/actor Will Oldham, film director Mary Harron (I Shot Andy Warhol), comedian/musician Fred Armisen, and rock historian/critic Greil Marcus.
REVENGE OF THE MEKONS reveals how, four decades into an ever-evolving career, the Mekons continue to make bold, unpredictable music while staying true to the punk ethos.
“The Mekons were kind of like the background music of my life.” – Jonathan Franzen
“Joe Angio’s jubilant new documentary Revenge of the Mekons…captures them in all their ragged, rough-and-tumble splendor.” – Village Voice
“An exemplary documentary about an exemplary band. A compelling look at why this particular band of ruffians has continued to remain so important for its devoted followers since their long-ago and almost accidental inception at the height of the punk-rock era.” – Slant Magazine
“Infectious…contagious” -The New York Times (Critics’ Pick)
“Buoyant” -The Hollywood Reporter
REVENGE OF THE MEKONS (2013, 96 mins.) Produced and Directed by Joe Angio. Co-producer: Jessica Wolfson. Editor: Jane Rizzo. Cinematographer: Jean-Louis Schuller. Featuring The Mekons: Jon Langford, Tom Greenhalgh, Susie Honeyman, Sally Timms, Rico Bell (Eric Bellis), Lu Edmonds, Steve Goulding, Sarah Corina. USA. Executive Producer: Daniel 13 Productions. A Music Box Films Release.
More information and downloadable photos are here.
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