“I wanted to be honest about gay life and gay sexuality. […] I think what you want to do is tell the truth, and by the particularity of the individual you break through to the commonality of the experience.” - Arthur J. Bressan Jr., 1986

An avid fan of filmmakers like Frank Capra and Sergei Eisenstein, Arthur J. Bressan, Jr. utilized both classical and experimental methods to tell gay stories in a post-Stonewall world, many through pornographic filmmaking. Split between San Francisco in the ‘70s and New York City in the ‘80s, Bressan’s films explore coming-of-age, the anxieties of being in and out of the closet, lovelorn melancholy, the thrill of seduction, anger at an unjust system, and so much more. They are defined by Bressan’s romantic and tender outlook on sexuality and the world around him, his witty sense of humor, and his clear passion for filmmaking. This July, we celebrate Arthur J. Bressan, Jr. as a groundbreaking Queer auteur, presenting his largely unseen films at the Music Box Theatre, all newly restored.