(Bette Gordon, 1983, USA, 100 minutes)

A nice thematic and content match to the 1981 U.K. film Nightshift (screenings of which this show is sandwiched between) and the 1980 French film Simone Barbès ou la vertu, Bette Gordon’s Variety stands on its own as a cultural document, forward-seeing independent film, and plain old entertaining picture. Our central character is Christine (Sandy McLeod), a box office attendant at a porno theatre near Times Square, who finds herself between her boyfriend Mark (Will Patton) and theatre patron Louie (Richard Davidson). Shot by Tom DiCillo a year before he lensed Stranger Than Paradise (and with a score co-written by Paradise’s John Lurie), a script co-written by cult novelist Kathy Acker (Blood and Guts in High School), beloved 90s/00s supporting player Luis Guzmán in one of his first roles, and cameos from many figures of the early 80s New York scene, including Cookie Mueller, Nan Goldin, Spalding Gray, and more.