Posted on: February 2, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Shirley Clarke was the most important woman director of the post-war era; creating art, controversy and acclaim throughout her career. Her jazz-infused films won international awards including an Oscar® nomination and a win for Best Documentary. Since her death in 1997, her films have fallen out of distribution and her work has been rarely seen. The preservation and release of Shirley Clarke’s films will be an important contribution to the history of women in film and a joy to audiences around the world.

Milestone is very pleased to announce that our two latest restored films, Shirley Clarke’s THE CONNECTION (1961) and ORNETTE: MADE IN AMERICA (1985) have been selected for screening at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival’s Forum of New Cinema.

Restored by UCLA Film & Television Archives with the participation of Milestone, the films will open at the IFC Center in New York and travel across North America over the course of the year.

Rights for these two films as well as the upcoming restoration of Clarke’s PORTRAIT OF JASON and ROBERT FROST: A QUARREL WITH THE WORLD are available from Milestone Films.
THE CONNECTION (1961)
TheConnection2.Jackie2 2Clarke’s first feature film won the Critics’ Prize at the 1961 Cannes Film Festival but was banned in the United States the next two years. Taking Jack Gelber’s brilliant but controversial Beat play, Clarke’s exuberant blending of cinematography, choreography, music and editing created one of the great jazz films of all time. An apartment of drug addicts wait for their connection while a filmmaker tries to create a Cinéma Vérité documentary about them. Starring Warren Finnerty and the great Jackie McLean! Restored from the original 35mm camera negative and fine grain. 2K and 35mm prints are available.

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