“For historically marginalized people, seeing ourselves represented on screen helps us know we’re not alone and gives us new ways of understanding who we are. We learn our cultural history, and discover a sense of community,” says Criterion Masc series co-curator and LGBTQ film historian Jenni Olson. “In this era of unprecedented attacks on the basic rights of LGBTQ people, and especially trans and gender non-conforming people, we also simply need and deserve to experience the fundamental restorative joy of cinema.” – Jenni Olson
About BY HOOK OR BY CROOK and its historic importance:
Provocatively exploring issues of queer representation, gender and trans identity in ways that contemporary LGBTQ+ culture and cinema are still catching up with, BY HOOK OR BY CROOK has created a powerful cultural impact that endures today. It was an immediate sensation upon its world premiere at Sundance in 2002, galvanizing audiences of all stripes with its never-before-seen portrayal of two working-class, trans/butch buddy grifters willfully existing on the margins of society.
It marks the feature film debut from three iconic LGBTQ+ filmmakers – film & TV director Silas Howard (Darby Harper Wants You To Know, Pose, Transparent, Dickinson, A Kid Like Jake), writer/artistic provocateur and Guggenheim Fellow Harry Dodge, and veteran producer Steak House (Shudder’s Queer for Fear, Disney+ series Launchpad and The Mustang for Focus Features).
After its premiere at Sundance, it received worldwide acclaim, garnering many festival awards (including Audience and Jury Awards at SXSW and Outfest), a prestigious theatrical release, and the film secured distribution with leading LGBTQ+ distributor Wolfe Releasing in 2003.
Featuring a standout original soundtrack by acclaimed musician Carla Bozulich (The Geraldine Fibbers) and a memorable cameo by musician / queer icon Joan Jett, BY HOOK OR BY CROOK is a not-to-be-missed film event of this year’s June Pride film entertainment coverage.
Playing Theatrically across the US in June @ Alamo Drafthouse
Doll Parts: 70 years of Trans Cinema
Programmed by film historian Elizabeth Purchell
https://drafthouse.com/movies/doll-parts-70-years-of-trans-cinema
Los Angeles – June 24, 2:15pm
Denver – June 24, 2:30pm
San Francisco – June 24, 3:00pm
New York City – June 25, 1:35pm
Raleigh – June 28, 6:30pm
Austin – June 28, 6:30pm
Chicago – June 28, 7:30pm
Playing Digitally throughout June @ Criterion Channel
Masc: 19 films about trans men, butch lesbians, and gender-nonconforming heroes
Curated by writer-archivist-filmmaker Jenni Olson and critic Caden Mark Gardner