Lupe

USA, 1966. Director José Rodríguez-Soltero.

A visually stunning celebration of the life and death of Mexican Hollywood star Lupe Velez, Rodríguez-Soltero’s film is an ecstatic explosion of colour, costume, music, camp performance and multiple superimpositions. Unconstrained by any given style, Rodríguez-Soltero drew inspiration from new wave and experimental film; Latin American, pop and classical music; trash culture; experimental theatre, and Kenneth Anger’s exposé Hollywood Babylon. Lupe is also a love poem to the underground star Mario Montez who designed his own sensational costumes and took immense cultist pleasure in identifying with the tragic Latino star.

With Mario Montez and Charles Ludlam.
Costumes by Mario Montez.

Past screenings

Birds of Paradise – London
Sunday 5 December 2010, 16:00 | Tate Modern
Screened alongside Chumlum (1964) as a part of the ‘Drag Glamour’ strand. With introduction by Ronald Gregg.

Birds of Paradise – New York
Saturday 23 April 2011, 19:00 | Museum of the Moving Image
Screened alongside Chumlum (1964) as a part of the ‘Drag Glamour’ strand.

Secrets of the Orient – New Haven
Saturday 12 November 2011, 19:30 | Yale University

Birds of Paradise – UK Tour
Sunday 11 March 2012, 17:00 | Arnolfini, Bristol
Screened alongside Chumlum (1964) as a part of the ‘Drag Glamour’ strand.