Phantoscope: William S. Burroughs – The Films

Wednesday February 25th, Triskel Christchurch Cinema, Cork

82 mins – UK/France/USA – 1963-1982 – Dir: William S. Burroughs / Antony Balch
Starring: William Burroughs, Brion Gysin and Antony Balch

William S. Burroughs is one of the defining figures of contemporary culture. A literary giant, he revolutionised late 20th century perception through both the form and content of his writings. The cut-up method of cutting into and rearranging texts through chance was introduced by artist Brion Gysin but is most widely associated with its use in Burroughs’ novels. He also explored these ideas in cinema through his collaborations with filmmaker Antony Balch. Phantoscope, Triskel’s regular experimental film event, presents a rare opportunity to see these films on the big screen.

The programme includes the two seminal cut-up classics Towers Open Fire (1963) and The Cut-Ups (1966); Ghosts at Number 9 (1982), an elaborate re-edit of these films along with other footage found after Balch’s death; the performance-to-camera Tony and Bill (1972); and the home movie William Buys a Parrot (1963).

The programme will also include a talk by Benjamin J. Heal, a Burroughs scholar and board member of the European Beat Studies Network.

Details and booking: http://bit.ly/1vjfhi7