The Magic Lantern's Merry XXXmas

The Magic Lantern promises to steam things up a bit this winter with its independent Christmas film programme, XXXmas. The event, held for one night only at Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts, will examine the representation of sex in cinema, focusing on the dilemmas of sexual expression.

The programme will offer a small selection of shorts from around the world, screening works from renowned filmmakers such as Stephen Dwoskin, Maria Abramovic and Carolee Schneemann. Set to be a highlight is Impaled, from contemporary director Larry Clark (Kids, Bully) - a close look at the effect of porn on attitudes towards sex that controversially encourages the documentary’s participants to live out their desires. There will also be the chance to see a classic ‘blue’ movie – French film La Fessée à l'École, a scandalous tale involving a sadistic teacher-schoolgirl relationship. In addition, Jean Genet’s seminal and once banned work, Un Chant D'Amour, deals with prison homosexuality but from an unexpectedly lyrical standpoint. Deemed as a tour de force of the sixties underground movement, this provocative piece will appeal to fans of Warhol.

Whatever your views on sex on screen, this will certainly be a stimulating event.