Escape From Rented Island: The Lost Paradise of Jack Smith

Plot Summary

In his essay film, Jerry Tartaglia, longtime archivist and restorer of the film estate of queer New York underground, experimental film, and performance legend Jack Smith, deals less with Smith’s life than with his work, analyzing Smith’s aesthetic idiosyncrasies in 21 thematic chapters. It's a film essay about the artist’s work, rather than a documentary about his life. An unmediated vision of Jack Smith, an invitation to join him in his lost paradise.

Top Cast

Jack Smith Himself (archive footage)

Mario Montez Himself (archive footage)

Beverly Grant Herself (archive footage)

Tony Conrad Himself (archive footage)

Agosto Machado Himself (archive footage)