SYNOPSIS

The story of Kenneth Anger, avant-garde filmmaker and Author of 'Hollywood Babylon".

Kenneth Anger was a major personality of the 1960’s and 1970’s who defined himself as a “cinematographic magician” and his “cinema” as a ritualistic form.

He is particularly well-known for his films “Fireworks” (1947), “Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome” (1954), “Scorpio Rising” ((1963) and “Lucifer Rising” (1970-1981).

Kenneth credits the use of esoteric symbolism, prevalent in his films, to Aleister Crowley (1875-1947), the great magician, advocate of Gnosticism and neo-paganism.

Contemporaries like Stan Brakhage and Harry Smith were influenced by and expanded upon Anger's approach in what was known as the "underground". Later on, this "underground" influenced Martin Scorsese, the contemporary mainstream exponent of this expressionistic style, who openly acknowledges Kenneth Anger's influence on his film technique. Kenneth is also known as the author of the “tell-all” series of books entitled “Hollywood Babylon."

Includes a special appearance of Jonas Mekas, the godfather of American avant-garde filmmaking, and music by Bobby Beausoleil, Steven Brown, Nikolas Klau, Tuxedomoon, Trevor Tureski & Richard Sacks.