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Resident Alien

At age 73, writer and melancholy master of the bon mot, Quentin Crisp (1908-1999), became an Englishman in New York. Nossiter's camera follows Crisp about the streets of Manhattan, where Crisp seems very much at home, wearing eye shadow, appearing on a makeshift stage, making and repeating wry observations, talking to John Hurt (who played Crisp in the autobiographical TV movie, "The Naked Civil Servant"), and dining with friends. Others who know Crisp comment on him, on his life as an openly gay man with an effeminate manner, and on his place in the history of gays' social struggle. The portrait that emerges is of one wit and of suffering.

Top Cast

  • Quentin Crisp

    Quentin Crisp

    Self

  • Peter Walker

    Peter Walker

    The Bum

  • Gilbert Stafford

    Gilbert Stafford

    Man on Street

  • Gus Rogerson

    Gus Rogerson

    Street Performer

  • Michaela Murphy

    Michaela Murphy

    Street Performer

  • John Sex

    John Sex

    Self

  • Felicity Mason

    Felicity Mason

    Dinner Hostess / Writer

  • Fran Lebowitz

    Fran Lebowitz

    Writer

  • Guy Kettelhack

    Guy Kettelhack

    Writer

Overview

At age 73, writer and melancholy master of the bon mot, Quentin Crisp (1908-1999), became an Englishman in New York. Nossiter's camera follows Crisp about the streets of Manhattan, where Crisp seems very much at home, wearing eye shadow, appearing on a makeshift stage, making and repeating wry observations, talking to John Hurt (who played Crisp in the autobiographical TV movie, "The Naked Civil Servant"), and dining with friends. Others who know Crisp comment on him, on his life as an openly gay man with an effeminate manner, and on his place in the history of gays' social struggle. The portrait that emerges is of one wit and of suffering.

Rating

5.3 / 10
10 Reviews
0 Popular

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