Queen of Diamonds

Venue

Metrograph

Address

7 Ludlow, New York, NY 10002

Dates & Times

Saturday, May 2nd, 5:00 PM The film has a duration of 77 minutes.

Collaborators

Director: Nina Menkes Starring: Tinka Menkes Distributor: Arbelos Restoration by: The Academy Film Archive and The Film Foundation, with funding from The Hobson / Lucas Family Foundation. Co-presented with: Eos World Fund

Activity Description

"Queen of Diamonds" is a 1991 film presented in a new 4K restoration. Unlike many films set in Las Vegas that focus on high-stakes gambling, this film explores the exhaustion and alienation experienced by individuals working within the city's "assembly line of thrills." The director's sister, Tinka, stars as a casino blackjack dealer who appears to be almost entirely dehumanized by her work, one of many lost souls depicted in the desert landscape. The screening is part of the "Nina Menkes x2" program and includes a Q&A session with director Nina Menkes on Saturday, May 2nd.

Editorial Recommendations

Glenn Kenny of The New York Times describes "Queen of Diamonds" as "not a 'dreamy' film" and states that its moments of disconnect from ordinary reality are intended to provoke in an anticapitalist and feminist way. He concludes by calling it "not an easy film. But it’s an essential one."