Top Bill: The Films of William Klein

9/11/09 to 10/11/09

Whether chronicling the folly of haute couture, exposing the absurdity of social conformity, or documenting the peculiar effects of celebrity, photographer and filmmaker William Klein applies an outsider's sensibility and an audacious visual energy. This retrospective surveys Klein's decades-long career in and out of fashion.

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  • The Model Couple, October 10

  • Upcoming
    Films
  • Upcoming
    Events
  • Selected
    Objects
  • Past
    Films
  • Past
    Events

Past Films

  • Muhammad Ali, the Greatest

    Friday, September 11 6:30 pm
    William Klein (France, 1974). Klein's portrait of the legendary fighter, political provocateur, and self-made celebrity is “wonderfully revealing.”-N.Y. Times (111 mins)
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  • Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?

    Saturday, September 12 8:40 pm
    William Klein (France, 1966). As sharp as a sheet-metal dress, Klein's first feature lampoons the fashion world with caustic wit and high Pop style. (102 mins)
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  • Pan-African Cultural Festival

    Sunday, September 13 5:00 pm
    William Klein (France/Algeria, 1969). Klein captures a moment of postcolonial jubilation at the massive cultural festival in Algiers, with appearances by luminaries from Miriam Makeba to Eldridge Cleaver. (120 mins)
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  • Eldridge Cleaver, Black Panther

    Friday, September 18 8:30 pm
    William Klein (France/Algeria, 1970). The Black Panther leader delivers his revolutionary critique with guerrilla gusto in Klein's doc, shot in Algeria where Cleaver was living in exile. (72 mins)
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  • Mr. Freedom

    Saturday, September 19 6:30 pm
    William Klein (France, 1969). It's Red versus Red, White, and Blue in Klein's cartoon-colored satire of American adventurism, a perfect care package of buffoonery, bombs, and bombast. With short Broadway by Light. (103 mins)
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  • The Little Richard Story

    Thursday, September 24 8:15 pm
    William Klein (France/U.S., 1980). There are many Little Richards-especially if you count the impersonators-in this portrait of the self-described “Queen of Rock ‘n' Roll.” “A great, great film.”-Village Voice (92 mins)
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  • Mode in France

    Saturday, September 26 6:30 pm
    William Klein (France, 1984). In a series of brief and fanciful episodes, Klein's quasi-documentary ribs the rarefied world of French couture. With short Contacts. (98 mins)
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  • The French

    Thursday, October 1 8:15 pm
    William Klein (France, 1981). Klein's tense record of the 1981 French Open-with Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Chris Evert, and others-is also a canny observation of the mechanics of performance. (135 mins)
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  • In & Out of Fashion

    Thursday, October 8 8:30 pm
    William Klein (France, 1998). The singularity of Klein's vision is on full display in this autobiographical annal of photographs, film clips, commercials, and drawings. (85 mins)
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  • The Model Couple

    Saturday, October 10 8:35 pm
    William Klein (France, 1976). Vacuous French newlyweds volunteer for an experiment in perfect living in Klein's arch appraisal of social engineering. (101 mins)
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  • Messiah

    Sunday, October 11 3:00 pm
    William Klein (France, 1999). Klein's rendition of Handel's oratorio marries the exalted music to images of quotidian America. (116 mins)
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