Screening

About The Connection

Year Released:

1962

Genres:

Drama

Metadata:

Directed by Shirley Clarke

The Connection is one of the most vital, fascinating films of the American independent world. Created by a woman director at a time when they were in very short supply, the film shattered stereotypes in just about every conceivable way. The film adapts a controversial play by Jack Gelber- a play within a play within a jazz concert. It portrays a group of drug addicts, musicians and filmmakers, waiting in a New York loft apartment for their drug connection. The brilliantly written Beat dialogue blends with jazz music written by the great pianist Freddie Redd. The Connection was preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive with funding by the Film Foundation. (35mm. Presentation)

The Shirley Clarke series is sponsored by the Department of Communication and Culture, Black Film Center/Archive, Indiana University Film and Media Studies, and IU Cinema. Special thanks to professors Joan Hawkins and Michael Martin.

Due to flight cancellations from Tropical Storm Sandy, Dennis Doros from Milestone Films will not be present for this screening.

If you would like to listen to David Brent Johnson's Night Lights radio program on the jazz music in The Connection, you can click here for the download. David is an alumnus of Indiana University, and began working with WFIU in 2002. He serves as jazz producer and systems coordinator at the station.