The five-part CREMASTER cycle is Matthew Barney’s cinematic masterpiece. In it, the American artist examines biological and psychological processes of formation. The Filmmuseum presents CREMASTER 5 (1997) and CREMASTER 4 (1994/95) from the cycle, which was not produced in chronological order.
CREMASTER 4, 1994/95, 42’
CREMASTER 4 takes place on the mystical Isle of Man, an island in the Irish Sea, where the famous ‘Tourist Trophy’ (TT) motorcycle race takes place annually. Barney used the opportunity to have two motorcycle teams circle the island in opposite directions.
CREMASTER 5, 1997, 54’ 30”
Matthew Barney describes the last and final part of the cycle as a lyric opera of a tragic love story set against the romantic backdrop of Budapest. The main characters in the epic are the Queen of Chains and the magician and escape artist Harry Houdini.
Introduction: Rainald Schumacher
