Members' Sunday Film Club 'Jean Cocteau'

With characteristically paradoxical flair, the multi-faceted poet, playwright, visual artist and filmmaker Jean Cocteau considered himself both celebrated and obscure. Over decades, he pioneered a dazzling private and public alchemy of staggering talent, expression, renown, and controversy, befriending and working with prominent creative figures from Schiaparelli and Chanel to Picasso and Edith Piaf.

Weaving the legendary Frenchman’s written words and recorded observations with a rich archival sampling of his exhaustive output, including diary excerpts read by Josh O’Connor, director Lisa Immordino Vreeland’s Jean Cocteau tells his fascinating story by compassionately, bringing into view a life freed by artistic impulse -- and an art deeply entwined with his ecstasies and struggles.

Join us for a special screening of this documentary, which critics have called “a rich and informative look at an artist who defies categorization”, “enchanting and engrossing” and “absolutely gorgeous”, followed by Q&A with Immordino Vreeland and Rosalind McKever, curator of paintings and drawings for Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art.