Pink Narcissus

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Pink Narcissus

Released May 24, 1971

1h 8m

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8 Reviews

74%

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100+ Ratings

An extremely handsome, brooding, self-absorbed young man escapes the realities of his real world through a progression of exotic fantasies. Obsessed with his own perfection, he lives in a dreamworld of intense colors, magnificent music, elaborate costumes and strikingly handsome men. In a series of Walter Mitty-like sequences he imagines himself as a Roman slave chosen by the emperor, a triumphant matador vanquishing the bull (who is really a black leather clad cyclist), an innocent wood nymph gamboling in the woods, and a diaphanously dressed harem boy in the tent of the sheik. The room where he does his daydreaming is an exquisite jewel-encrusted retreat. But reality constantly intrudes through the visits of his "johns" and the harsh and ugly sounds of the streets and the depraved lives of those who inhabit them. His narcissistic enchantment with his own beauty and lifestyle is marred by one great fear--aging and the loss of his youth and good looks. Finally, a terrible glimpse of reality, the jaded "john" becomes himself.

Peter Debruge

Variety

Watching “Pink Narcissus” again in its glorious new restoration, I’m seduced all over again by how coy it all seems.

Apr 15, 2025

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

It is sad and very vulnerable, and as serious as it is sappy.

Apr 9, 2025

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Time Out Staff

Time Out

It's all massively erotic, healthily funny and visually impressive, reminiscent of Lindsay Kemp, Kenneth Anger and their ilk.

Jun 24, 2006

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Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

A bracing, gorgeous combination of beefcake images, artworld photography and experimental cinema that's essential for any true film fan.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 4, 2007

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 1/5

Jul 4, 2005

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Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Pretentious tripe.

Rated: 1/5

May 5, 2004

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Audience Member

I am usually a fan of underground, experimental films but Pink Narcissus did not win me over. It has got a lot of colour set designs but it is shallow as hell, almost bored me to death.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

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Audience Member

The type of movie that's shot so gorgeously it carries the entire film. Director James Bidgood disowned this film after it was taken from him (after 7 years of work) and edited without his input, but it's a shame considering that what makes this film amazing his entirely his work. His lighting, framing, casting, sets and overall vision are so entrancing, beautiful, and even humorous at times that you forget there's no dialogue (and a fairly nonexistent plot). I will say, at its worst it's just overly blunt and veers on a sort of stripper-appeal that doesn't really vibe with the rest of the film (I'm thinking rather specifically about the naked man wearing only pearl necklaces waving his dick around for five minutes while a hand strokes a beaded, twisted phallus). But I'll go ahead and blame the editing for that, because visually it's still striking. It's such a shame Bidgood had such a hard time with this movie, I would absolutely have loved to have seen more from him.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

Considering that this is a 1970s gay experimental film, I was surprised to find myself riveted all the way through. The imagination and command of visuals is masterful.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

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Audience Member

Imaginative and artificial, seductive and repulsive, joyous and melancholic, this film investigated identity, sexuality, gender, and desire in a visually stunning and emotionally compelling manner. Using a range of techniques and uniting the popular with the experimental, this film walks the line between pornography and art.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

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Audience Member

Utterly gorgeous film, reminiscent of Kenneth Anger's work but actually totally individual. Shot is lush saturated colour we get to worship at the Divine temple of Bobby Kendall who dresses up as a Bullfighter, a young man dressed head to toe in white, as a harem boy...The sets are amazing as is the imagery, it has long been regarded a cult classic and is way more erotic than anything a modern day pornographer could offer. Stunning.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

Beautiful, amazing movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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James Bidgood

Director

Bobby Kendall

Actor

Don Brooks

Actor

Charles Ludlam

Actor

James Bidgood

Screenwriter

James Bidgood

Producer

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Synopsis

An extremely handsome, brooding, self-absorbed young man escapes the realities of his real world through a progression of exotic fantasies. Obsessed with his own perfection, he lives in a dreamworld of intense colors, magnificent music, elaborate costumes and strikingly handsome men. In a series of Walter Mitty-like sequences he imagines himself as a Roman slave chosen by the emperor, a triumphant matador vanquishing the bull (who is really a black leather clad cyclist), an innocent wood nymph gamboling in the woods, and a diaphanously dressed harem boy in the tent of the sheik. The room where he does his daydreaming is an exquisite jewel-encrusted retreat. But reality constantly intrudes through the visits of his "johns" and the harsh and ugly sounds of the streets and the depraved lives of those who inhabit them. His narcissistic enchantment with his own beauty and lifestyle is marred by one great fear--aging and the loss of his youth and good looks. Finally, a terrible glimpse of reality, the jaded "john" becomes himself.

Director: James Bidgood
Producer: James Bidgood
Screenwriter: James Bidgood
Distributor: Sherpix
Release Date (Theaters): May 24, 1971, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Apr 11, 2025
Runtime: 1h 8m