Such is the story of underground comic artist mike diana. Jailed for comics the true story of the only us artist convicted of obscenity, directed by cult filmmaker frank henenlotter. Superchief created special collectables for the show, inclu. New yorks what the fest announces full horror and genre. The trial of mike diana, a frank henenlotter documentary about artists charged with obscenity. And we know how the authorities need to pin the blame on someone or something in times like these.
The trial of mike diana 2018 details the injustices that befell diana and gives voice to many of the players involved. Just like movies got the blame for tragedies such as hungerford and the james bulger murder, mike dianas comic boiled angel became a scapegoat for a situation that, at the time, had no real reasoning behind it. Jennie kermode biafra brings real energy and passion to the job, helping to make this a film thats consistently gripping and never gets dry even when dealing with legal details. As a teenager, mike diana took after the underground comix community, namely zap comix, and selfpublished boiled angel, his first handmade comic zine hallmarked by his flagrantly explicit and taboo black line drawings. The bmovie icon frank henenlotter tries to unknot all those entangled strings in his documentary boiled angels. This film will be introduced by producer mike hunchback. With evan bacon, peter bagge, stuart baggish, stephen r. Frank henenlotter, 2018, usa, 105 min director frank henenlotter, producers anthony sneed and mike hunchback, and subject mike diana in attendance.
Like it says in the introduction, mike diana was forbidden to draw and told to stay away from teenagers, among other punishments for publishing this comic. Exploitation filmmaker frank henenlotter basket case delves into the whole mess with his colourful, punkrock doc boiled angels. Film the trial en streaming streaming complet en francais. The trial of mike diana, dianas historic 1994 trial is given as much attention as the history of comic book censorship. As we learn right up front in frank henenlotters compelling documentary, boiled angels. The trial of mike diana i remember being shocked when i heard that the dead kennedys, a san francisco punk band, had their house raided by federal agents in april of 1986 simply because theyd included a poster from artist h. Artist mike diana is convicted on an obscenity charge in the wake of an undercover police officer purchasing his limited edition zine boiled angel. Oh, a new mick garris fright film is always cause for celebration and nightmare cinema finds him dabbling in what he knows best anthology terrors. Apr 11, 2018 his followup is more serious about the legal implications of flouting standards of decency.
Here is the very unusual story of what led to this first amendment debacle happening for the first time in the united states. It effectively became the first comic book in the united states to cause its creator to be convicted for artistic obscenity. The film also featured appearances from neil gaiman and george a. The trial of mike diana that led to this historic ruling, and talks to contemporaries about the shock waves that went through the underground scene at the time. Diana was inspired to finally complete his probation by the upcoming documentary boiled angels. Jailed for comics the true story of the only us artist convicted of obscenity for his own work, directed by cult filmmaker frank henenlotter. The trial of mike diana, a documentary chronicling the obscenity trail of the eponymous comic book artist mike diana, directed by cult favorite frank henenlotter basket case.
Since, the two have collaborated on the films the art thieves and award winning doc boiled angels. Spectacular optical is a smallpress publisher of film and pop culture books based in canada, owned and operated by writer and film programmer. These zines were ordered by the fdle florida dept of law enforcement leading to mikes arrest, trial, and tribulations. The trial of mike diana cleverly chronicles the unbelievable story, while also recounting the misunderstood history of underground comicsfrom the moral panic of the 50s to the controversial work of robert crumb. Boiled angel was an independent comic book by floridabased underground comic book artist mike diana in the early 1990s. The latest documentary directed by henenlotter, boiled angels is the true story of underground comic artist mike diana, the only american artist ever convicted of obscenity. The film details the 1994 florida obscenity charge that landed mike in jail as the only visual artist in us history to be jailed for their art. The screen had a netflix watermark so it should turn up thereafter it makes its rounds. The trial of mike diana at the what the fest premiere. New york citythe kickstarterfunded documentary about the only american artist ever to have been convicted of obscenity will have its world premiere at new york citys ifc center on march 31, as part of the inaugural what the fest film festival boiled angels. The trial of mike diana 2019 directed by frank henenlotter. The handmade comic zines that teenager mike diana banged out in the 1980s were retina. The trial of mike diana is having its world premiere in. Born and raised in new jersey, hes also an enrolled member of the eastern band of cherokee indians.
And right away, theres a problem boiled angel depicts sex, and yes, it can be considered offensive. Tells the story of underground cartoonist mike diana, who was the first person in the united. Jul 27, 2003 bachelorman is both funny and frustrating at the same time, funny because of the predicament we see ted davis david deluise going through during the film, and frustrating because of the abrupt change of gears in the middle, a switch in tone that can easily cause a loss of interest, despite the appeal of the two leads. The trial of mike diana, there are a lot of ways to describe mike dianas underground comics.
Narrated by punk icon, jello biafra dead kennedys, this boisterous documentary profiles an unlikely free speech hero. Narrated sparsely by jello biafra, the film provides a complete context for the situations. It looks like we dont have any akas for this title yet. In 1991, the fbi thought they had a lead on the gainesville student murders when they came into possession of mike dianas zine, boiled angel. After a brief trial, he became the first and still the only artist ever to be successfully prosecuted for obscenity in the united states. In 1991, while investigating a florida murder case, a police officer discovered an issue of boiled angel and, desperate for clues, contacted diana, informed him he was a suspect, and requested a blood sample.
The trial of mike diana, offers a horrifying look at how easily the law can be turned against a transgressor in the right circumstances. Boiled angels, about the florida prosecution of cartoonist mike diana, tells the story of. Director frank henenlotter, artist mike diana and producers anthony sneed and mike hunchback discussing the film boiled angles. The film, from artist anthony sneed and director frank henenlotter, explored the legal battle and its ramifications on the art community. Now, a film by master of schlock frank henenlotter, boiled angels. Starring mike diana, neil gaiman, peter bagge, george romero, jello biafra, suzy solar, luke ilrot, stuart baggish. The trial of mike diana concerns the life and work of the underground comic book artist, whose series boiled angels was first. With up to 300 in circulation at the time, diana hoped to circumnavigate the conservative eye of lar. Psychotronic auteur and archivist frank henenlotter if i really need to rattle off henenlotters filmography here, youre on the wrong website aims to teach todays fandom the valuable lessons in boiled angels. Mike diana is the focus of a new documentary, boiled angels.
Daily grindhouse fantasia 2018 our most anticipated. The trial of mike diana tells the frustrating, baffling, incrediblebuttrue story, directed by sexploitation auteur frank henenlotter basket case, brain damage, frankenhooker with an attitude of goodhumored punk energy. Webmaster needed for online shop trade html skills for art email mike or jefe. The trial of mike diana 1h 45min documentary 31 march 2018 usa tells the story of underground cartoonist mike diana, who was the first person in the united states to be convicted of artistic obscenity. Though its production is humble and its account full of images many wont want to see, the case represents crucial knowledge for. Boiled angel lives only 1,500 will be made available. He got participation from diana himself, as well as his parents and siblings, his lawyer, the state. The trial of mike diana 2018 is a solid and consistently engaging documentary about the first and only person to ever rec.
The trial of mike diana 2018 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The trial of mike diana, a new documentary that made its international premiere at the fantasia festival today. Way back in november of 2016, we featured a documentary on our kickstart sunday feature that took a look at the life of mike diana, the only artist to ever be convicted of obscenity in the united states. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing boiled angels. In 2008, he landed the lead role in frank henenlotters film bad biology, catalyzing their working relationship. The comic contained graphic depictions of a variety of taboo and gory subject matters. Diana would use the school copy machine to make his own zine that he would later distribute to friends and family. Though its production is humble and its account full of images many wont want to see, the case. Mike diana created boiled angel, a raunchy, overthetop and. Most stories envolve necrophilia, pedophilia, rape, satanism, etc. Dianas prosecution was referenced in the graphic novel teenagers from mars by rick spears and rob g. To add insult to injury, nobody ever once mentioned what a complete waste of taxpayer money it was to prosecute a kid drawing comics in the. Anthony sneed is raising funds for the trial of mike diana on kickstarter. The trial streaming complet streaming complet en francais.
The real killer was soon apprehended, and diana was not pursued. The trial of mike diana not only offers details on the trial, but also a history of censorship in comics, and serves as a defining portrait of one of the most important artists in the. In 1988 nineteenyearold mike diana was working as a school janitor in largo, florida. The trial of mike diana is the sort of documentary that, in its home stretch, casually reveals how it could have been a much more interesting movie had it changed its focus a bit rather than mostly serving as an overview of. We talk about the film, his career retrospective at alamo drafthouse in brooklyn, naked ladies. Featuring interviews with comic book luminaries including neil gaiman sandman, stephen bissette saga of the swamp thing and peter bagge hate, boiled angels. Our wednesday and thursday fantasia picks cult mtl.
The trial of mike diana frank henenlotter us 101min. In 1992, 25yearold cartoonist mike diana became the first artist in the u. I knew of mike diana s art from some punk records, and never knew about what happened to him in the 90s, and being charged with obscenity in florida. Following his 2008 comeback film bad biology, henenlotter has steered away from fiction films and has instead been producing documentaries about the behindthescenes of the cinema that influenced him. Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the akas submission guide. In the early 90s, underground cartoonist mike diana was hauled into a florida court over the disturbing images of sex and violence in his self published comic book zine, boiled angel. Tells the story of underground cartoonist mike diana, who was the first person in the united states to be convicted of artistic obscenity. The trial of mike diana, which will be having its international premiere this saturday as part of montreals fantasia film. Coming attractions for you 2020s most anticipated movies. For the first time since their original printing, mike dianas infamous homemade fanzines boiled angel are being reprinted exclusively by mike. Read what our users had to say about boiled angels. The trial of mike diana, is beginning its festival rounds.
However, it wasnt henenlotters name that attracted me to boiled angels. In 1994, a psychologist testified that reading boiled angel would turn adults into serial killers, narrates punk rock mouthpiece jello biafra in frank henenlotters new documentary boiled angels. Mar 30, 2018 as we learn right up front in frank henenlotters compelling documentary, boiled angels. Legendary director frank henenlotters new documentary boiled angels. The trial of mike diana by anthony sneed kickstarter.
The trial of mike diana, regarder film streaming hd vf boiled angels. Jul 16, 2018 directed by lowbudget horror auteur turned documentarian frank henenlotter writer and director of 1988s brain damage, 1990s frankenhooker, and the basket case trilogy, boiled angels. The trial of mike diana is an irreverent and straightforward account of the 1993 obscenity trial of mike diana, the first and only american cartoonist. The trial of mike diana cleveland international film. Read what all the top critics had to say about boiled angels. Though its production is humble and its account full of images many wont want to see. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. The film certainly runs way too long but its a great way to get familiar with some of the titles offered up by something weird video.
An look at the history of black horror films and the role of african americans in the film genre from the very. The trial of mike diana is fairly selfexplanatory, as far as titles go. Mike diana documentary to premiere in nyc on march 31 avn. This documentary focuses on american comic book artist mike diana, a quiet, unassuming man who, in 1994, went on trial in largo, florida, on obscenity charges stemming from his zine, boiled angel. I was able to speak with both diana and henenlotter over the phone thanks to the help of boiled angels producer mike hunchback. The trial of mike diana, a documentary detailing dianas legal battle and its ripples within the comic artists community, was successfully crowdfunded by artist anthony sneed and directed by frank henenlotter. The trial of mike diana 2018, directed by the legendary frank henenlotter. Henenlotters documentary, narrated by jello biafra, is the troubling story of this ruling against freedom of expression. The trial of mike diana is on the festival circuit and i saw it thanks to a screener from this years fantasia international film festival. Boiled angels, about the florida prosecution of cartoonist mike diana, tells the story of the only. His followup is more serious about the legal implications of flouting standards of decency. In 1994, mike dianas controversial cartoons shocked the inhabitants of largo, florida enough to land him on trial for obscenity. In 1993, when mike diana went to court, he faced the miller test. Because the court found his twisted, ultraviolent, sexfilled boiled angels series.
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