My Own Private Idaho

Showings

The Roxy Theater Screen 3 Sun, Jun 26, 2022 7:30 PM
The Roxy Theater Screen 3 Sat, Jun 3, 2023 7:00 PM
Film Info
Series:Queerwest Film Festival
Rating:R
Run Time:104 min
Release Year:1991
Country:US
Genre:Drama
Sponsored By:Farmers State Bank
Cast/Crew Info
Director:Gus Van Sant
Cast Members:River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, James Russo, Udo Kier, Grace Zabriskie
Writers:Gus Van Sant

Description

From the restrictive Hays Code that constructed a celluloid closet, to the queer indie explosion of the mid-90s, to our contemporary conversations about representation, both independent and mainstream cinema have struggled with the way they portray LGBTQ2S people and stories. And while representation has obviously bettered over the last century of cinema, the question now turns to what queer stories get told. Queerwest celebrates not only the stories of queer life on the coasts, but the lives, adventures, and pain of LGBTQ2S people living under the majesty, power, and complicated history of the American West.

River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves star in this haunting tale from Gus Van Sant about two young street hustlers: Mike Waters, a sensitive narcoleptic who dreams of the mother who abandoned him, and Scott Favor, the wayward son of the mayor of Portland and the object of Mike’s desire. Navigating a volatile world of junkies, thieves, and johns, Mike takes Scott on a quest along the grungy streets and open highways of the Pacific Northwest, in search of an elusive place called home. Visually dazzling and thematically groundbreaking, My Own Private Idaho is a deeply moving look at unrequited love and life on society’s margins.


Sponsored by Farmers State Bank!