Liquid Sky

USA, 1982. Director Slava Tsukerman. 112min.

The cult feature film Liquid Sky (1982) falls into the science fiction genre, so it is immediately labelled as make-believe. However, what director Slava Tsukerman has cleverly done here, is lend plausibility to his fictitious characters by basing their stylish futuristic outfits on a genuine fashion – labelled New Wave – that was prevalent in the New York underground scene at the time of making the film. He goes further with the film’s storyline, by featuring a crowd of genuine Lower East Side fashionistas and exhibitionists in a nightclub and spectacular fashion show, whilst also capturing the elitist mood, drug preferences, and sexual activities of that same hedonist scene.

For further reading, see Roger K. Burton’s essay Loving the Alien.

Past screenings:

Between Stigma and Enigma – London
Saturday 27 May 2006, 15:00 | The Horse Hospital

The 1st Fashion in Film Festival – New York
Saturday 17 March 2007, 18:30 | Museum of the Moving Image
With introduction by director Slava Tsukerman, cinematographer Yuri Neyman, and production and costume designer Marina Levikova.

The 1st Fashion in Film Festival – Arnhem
Sunday 17 June 2007, 19:30 | Focus