CELEBRATING CINEMA FILM CLUB:
VELVET GOLDMINE INCL. INTRODUCTION
For this edition of our monthly Celebrating Cinema Film Club, we’re revisiting Todd Haynes’ electrifying glam-rock opus, Velvet Goldmine—a film that explores the constraints of the traditional musical biopic. Timed to coincide with our latest podcast episode diving deep into the genre, this screening invites us to reconsider what musical biopics can and should be. Too often, these films settle for formulaic nostalgia, sanding down the edges of their subjects in favor of easy sentimentality.
In an introduction by our podcast host Hugo Emmerzael, we’ll explore how Velvet Goldmine eschews convention, embracing myth, artifice, and the raw spectacle to craft something far more evocative than a greatest-hits compilation.
Todd Haynes’ Velvet Goldmine is a kaleidoscopic tribute to 1970s glam rock, capturing the era’s hedonistic spirit and its exploration of identity and artistry. Through the rise and fall of fictional rock star Brian Slade (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), the film delves into themes of fame, sexuality, and self-reinvention. Its dazzling visuals, eclectic soundtrack, and bold storytelling blur the line between myth and reality, drawing clear inspiration from icons like David Bowie. Christian Bale and Ewan McGregor deliver standout performances, grounding the flamboyant narrative with emotional depth. Velvet Goldmine is a celebration of the transformative power of music and the rebellion it inspires.
