Salvation!

The artist and filmmaker Beth B has been creating transgressive and transformative work for over 45 years. B began her artistic work in the late 1970s in New York City as a provocateur in the No Wave scene. She has made over 30 films, which move effortlessly between documentary, experimental and fiction, with themes such as mental illness, violence, trans- phobia, and addiction. Today, Beth B’s “Now Wave” work reflects the universality of intimate and painful struggles and the possibility for catharsis through creative expression. From August 15–25, with “Now Wave: Beth B–Glowing”, silent green presents the artist’s early and current work in the form of performances, an exhibition and a series of films. To kick things off, we are showing SALVATION! HAVE YOU SAID YOUR PRAYERS TODAY? (1987) - a sharp-witted social satire starring Viggo Mortensen, which anticipated the pop-cultural fascination with televangelism - as a 35mm film print that Arsenal acquired when the film premiered in the Berlinale Forum in 1987. The film will be preceded by the belligerent music video THE DOMINATRIX SLEEPS TONIGHT (1984). (Linda Winkler)

Showing first: The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight Beth B USA 1984 Digital file engl. OV 4 min.

→ Podcast: Beth B SALVATION – Arsenal 60ff. Film Talks from 5 Decades