Sunday, July 5, 2026 at 1:00 PM to Sunday, July 5, 2026 at 9:00 PM
2220 Arts + Archives, Los Angeles
Los Angeles Filmforum presents *Filmforum 50, program 16: Star Spangled to Death*. Program notes and complete info at: https://www.lafilmforum.org/ ∆ In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, and in honor of the late Ken Jacobs, we present his epic tribute to the United States of America. “Is an epic film shot for hundreds of dollars! Combining found-films with my own more-or-less staged filming, it pictures a stolen and dangerously sold-out America, allowing examples of popular culture to self-indict. Racial and religious insanity, monopolization of wealth and the purposeful dumbing down of citizens and addiction to war oppose a beat playfulness. A handful of artists costumed and performing unconvincingly appeal to audience imagination and understanding to complete the picture. Jack Smith's pre-Flaming Creatures performance as The Spirit Not Of Life But Of Living (the movie has raggedly cosmic pretensions), celebrating Suffering (rattled and impoverished artist Jerry Sims) at the crux of sentient existence, is truly a visitation of the divine. Assisted by Nisi Jacobs” – Ken Jacobs Special Thanks to Azazel Jacobs. *Star Spangled to Death*, by Ken Jacobs, Made 1956-60/2003-04, digital, 440 minutes or maybe 390 minutes?