A QUESTION OF SILENCE
1982. Netherlands. 92 min. Directed by Marleen Gorris. 35mm!

Can murder ever be justified? That’s the central question at the heart of this controversial 1981 feminist classic by Marleen Gorris (Antonia's Line). A QUESTION OF SILENCE follows a psychiatrist (Edda Barends) as she interviews three female strangers who mysteriously joined together to kill a male shop owner in a fit of spontaneous rage. The film is a favorite of legendary theater artists Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver, together known as Split Britches (who will be at LaMama ETC with their new show Unexploded Ordnances (UXO) January 4th-22nd). Shaw and Weaver write, “A QUESTION OF SILENCE has had huge impact on our work in terms of finding a queer feminist solution to issues and problems. We always refer to it at some point in our process.” Rarely screened in theaters, Gorris’ film should provoke a fascinating conversation in the wake of the recent surge of the #MeToo movement.

As always, our screening will be followed by drinks and discussion at Julius Bar (159 West 10th St. at Waverly), the oldest gay bar in New York City!

SPLIT BRITCHES

Split Britches was founded 34 years ago by Peggy Shaw, Lois Weaver, and Deb Margolin in New York City. Split Britches continues with the duo and solo work of Lois Weaver and Peggy Shaw which spans satirical, gender-bending performance, methods for public engagement, videography, digital and print media, explorations of ageing and wellbeing, and iconic lesbian-feminist theatre.