Dustin Guy Defa presents: Trent Harris's THE BEAVER TRILOGY (2000)
Among the most infamous independent films to emerge from Utah—and never commercially available on home video—Trent Harris’s cult masterpiece that deserves its reputation.
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Feb 06, 2024, 8:00 PM
2220 Arts + Archives, 2220 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057, USA
THE BEAVER TRILOGY
directed by Trent Harris
2000, 85m, U.S., DCP
Introduced by filmmaker Dustin Guy Defa (The Adults)
Among the most infamous independent films to emerge from Utah—and never made commercially available on home video—Trent Harris’ Beaver Trilogy is a cult masterpiece that deserves its reputation. In 1979, Harris visited the small town of Beaver, Utah to film a talent show for public-access television, and became fascinated by 21-year-old impersonator Richard Griffiths, known as “Groovin’ Gary”, whose grand finale is a performance in drag as Olivia Newton-John. After filming that short portrait—but leaving it unedited—Harris revisited the material for a narrative film with up-and-coming actor named Sean Penn in 1981 (Beaver Kid 2), and in 1985 rewrote the script for Crispin Glover (The Orkly Kid). In 2000, Harris combined these films together, creating a layered and poignant exploration of small-town dreams, celebrity culture and the interplay of performance and gender identity. The Beaver Trilogy is a triumph of regional independent cinema and a film that you won’t soon forget.
Special thanks to Trent Harris and Courtney Muller.
"Best Independent / Experimental Film of 2001" – Los Angeles Film Critics Association
"A rivetingly strange, multilayered inquiry into celebrity, obsession, and serendipity." – A.O. Scott, The New York Times
“Much theoretical noise has been made about the disappearance of the real, the primacy of the simulacra, and the end of art in a post-everything world. If you'd like to address these issues and walk away with laughter, rather than a headache, search out Beaver Trilogy.” -Film Comment