Screening

About Kinsey

Rating:

R R

Year Released:

2004

Genres:

Drama

Metadata:

Directed by Bill Condon

Alfred Kinsey was a man driven by research to uncover the most private secrets of a nation. What begins for Kinsey as a scientific endeavor soon takes on an intensely personal relevance, ultimately becoming an unexpected journey into the mystery of human behavior. Liam Neeson stars as Kinsey, who in 1948 irrevocably changed American culture with his book Sexual Behavior in the Human Male. His work sparked one of the most intense cultural debates of the past century—a debate that rages on today. IU Cinema and The Kinsey Institute present the film in celebration of the 10th anniversary of its release. (35mm. 118 min. Rated R.)

In 2002, Variety reported that Bill Condon was preparing to shoot a film about Alfred Kinsey. The Kinsey Institute was skeptical, imagining a sensationalized treatment of the topic. But when Bill Condon arrived in Bloomington with Liam Neeson, they won the Institute and its staff over with their focus and desire for a deep understanding of the time, the place, and the characters. On November 12, 2004, IU hosted the Midwest premiere at the IU Auditorium, introduced by Laura Linney. It was a stellar evening, and even Dr. Paul Gebhard was happy with his portrayal by Timothy Hutton (“He even got the blue shirt right!”), though the audience groaned when they saw “University of Indiana” in the credits.

Bill Condon and Jack Morrissey created the Kinsey film archive at the institute, with props, scripts and stills from the film, and much “Kinseyana” memorabilia. We honor this film for its nuanced treatment of a complicated, brilliant scientist and humanist, who dared to talk about and study human sexuality. This screening is free, but ticketed.