BEAUTIFUL DARLING (USA)

 Coachella Valley Premiere – One Time Screening 

Born James Slattery in Massapequa, Long Island, in 1944, Candy Darling transformed herself into a stunning blonde actress who in the mid-Sixties became an active player in New York’s “downtown” scene.  In her passionate act of self-creation, Candy Darling mesmerized.  A party fixture, she appeared in Warhol films, and Tennessee Williams cast her in a play.  She was seen and written about, and then, before she turned 30, cancer claimed her life.

Using vintage footage and interviews old and new, and anchored by the presence of Candy’s very close friend, Jeremiah Newton, director James Rasin creates a critical and loving portrait of a singular and audacious life.  The film uses excerpts from Candy’s own diaries and letters, as well as vintage footage of Candy and friends.  Interviews with colleagues, contemporaries and friends of Candy, including John Waters, Paul Morrissey, Michael J. Pollard, Peter Beard, Holly Woodlawn, Bob Colacello, Fran Lebowitz, Julie Newmar and Ron Delsener.  Candy’s letters and diaries are read by Chloë Sevigny.

“Extraordinarily sad, touching and compassionate.” – REX REED, THE NEW YORK OBSERVER

“Touching… a sad, lyrical reflection on the foolish worship of movie stars.” – STEPHEN HOLDEN, THE NEW YORK TIMES

Director & Writer:  James Rasin
Producer:  Jeremiah Newton
Runtime:  82 min.
Distributor:  Corinth Films
Genre:  Documentary
Country:  USA
Rating:  Not Rated
Trailer:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gvk9F4flk4

FESTIVALS:  Berlin International; Frameline, San Francisco; New Directors/New Films, NY; ERA New Horizons, Poland; Chicago International; Hirshhorn Museum, Washington DC; Viennale, Vienna, Austria; Hamptons International FF; Woodstock FF; Sydney FF; Seattle FF.