An extraordinary program of films showcasing the pop-culture icon David Bowie will be presented at the Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art from 17 August to 5 October

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Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) Curatorial Manager, Australian Cinémathèque, Amanda Slack-Smith said ‘The Cracked Actor: Bowie on Screen’, is an illuminating exploration of the visionary performer’s foray into documentary, musical, drama and comedy film.

‘From the fantastical to the heartfelt, these films reveal David Bowie’s holistic approach to creativity, and just how closely he intertwined the many threads of his singular artistic tapestry.

‘The inspired line-up, including rare imported 35mm prints, celebrates the charisma, style and broad cinematic interests that defined the chameleonic musician’s choice in screen roles,’ Ms Slack‑Smith said.

The program opens with an unmissable pairing of films: Cracked Actor 1975 by director Alan Yentob, a revealing documentary on Bowie’s rediscovery of his sense of self following the turbulent Ziggy Stardust years; and Nicolas Roeg’s The Man Who Fell to Earth 1976, with Bowie as an extraterrestrial space explorer, widely considered his finest performance.

Cinemagoers will be enraptured by iconic films such as Jim Henson’s Labyrinth 1986, The Last Temptation of Christ 1988 directed by Martin Scorsese, David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me 1992, and The Prestige 2006 by director Christopher Nolan, in addition to DA Pennebaker’s exhilarating concert film Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars 1973.

Dr Victoria Wareham, Assistant Curator, Australian Cinémathèque, QAGOMA and curator of ’The Cracked Actor’, said Bowie drew on his own life experiences to develop stirring, deeply personal performances, including as lead in the wartime drama Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence 1983 by director Nagisa Ōshima, and in the role of another larger-than-life icon, Andy Warhol, in Julian Schnabel’s Basquiat 1996.

‘From recordings of early musical performances to unforgettable acting roles, this program offers a rare opportunity to see an eclectic suite of films featuring the pop-culture icon, and will appeal to aficionados and absolute beginners alike,’ Dr Wareham said.

Unexpected gems showcasing Bowie’s impressive filmography include Richard Shepard’s The Linguini Incident1991, the comedic tale of an unlikely criminal trio chasing big dreams; a scene-stealing role in Julien Temple’s Absolute Beginners 1986, a vivid caricature of 1950s post-war Britain; Brett Morgen’s visually spectacular Moonage Daydream 2022, a documentary tribute to the actor’s transcendental performance style; and a rare screening of Michael Armstrong’s 1969 short film The Image, featuring Bowie, in his very first on-screen role, as an enigmatic painting that comes to life.

The program closes with Tony Scott’s cult classic feature debut The Hunger 1983, a sizzling gothic vampire tale set in 1980s New York.

Tickets for screenings in ‘The Cracked Actor: Bowie on Screen’ are available to purchase now at https://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/cinema/program/the-cracked‑actor/

QAGOMA acknowledges the generous assistance of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Canberra and the UCLA Film & TV Archive, Los Angeles in providing materials for this program.

QAGOMA’s Australian Cinémathèque presents curated programs, genre showcases and director retrospectives covering the world of film from crowd-pleasing fan favourites and cult classics to hard-to-find international cinema, rare 35mm prints and silent films with live musical accompaniment.

‘The Cracked Actor: Bowie on Screen’ includes the following films:

• The Image 1969 / Dir: Michael Armstrong
• Cracked Actor 1975 / Dir: Alan Yentob
• The Man Who Fell to Earth 1976 / Dir: Nicolas Roeg
• Just a Gigolo 1978 /Dir: David Hemmings
• Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars 1973 / Dir: DA Pennebaker
• Christiane F. 1981 / Dir: Uli Edel
• Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence 1983 / Dir: Nagisa Ōshima
• The Hunger 1983 / Dir: Tony Scott
• Absolute Beginners 1986 / Dir: Julien Temple
• Labyrinth 1986 / Dir: Jim Henson
• The Last Temptation of Christ 1988 / Dir: Martin Scorsese
• The Linguini Incident 1991/ Dir: Richard Shepard
• Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me 1992 / Dir: David Lynch
• Basquiat 1996 / Dir: Julian Schnabel
• The Prestige 2006 / Dir: Christopher Nolan

Screenings take place Wednesdays and Saturdays.