IT CAME FROM KUCHAR at Roxie Theater April 16, 2010

Director Jennifer Kroot & George Kuchar IN PERSON
Sat, April 17 @ the 7:00 & 9:00 shows!

San Francisco underground film and comic art legends, George and Mike Kuchar, are the subjects of this outrageous and loving documentary by Bay Area native Jennifer M. Kroot.

IT CAME FROM KUCHAR documents the life and cinema of the Kuchar brothers – the twin maestros of B-movie glamour and sleaze. Their home made, no-budget films inspired the likes of John Waters, and their generous and kooky spirits will renew your love of film.

Known in the 1960s as the "8mm Mozarts," the Kuchars rose to fame in the American underground movement with their unique brand of campy, melodramatic films they created as Bronx teenagers. They shared the spotlight with Andy Warhol, Kenneth Anger and Jack Smith, but unlike their pretentious peers the Kuchars’ films were funny, human and vulnerable. Their films such as Hold Me While I'm Naked and Sins of the Fleshapoids - filled with alien abduction, seedy Hollywood glamour, robots, and toilet humour - influenced an entire generation of filmmakers.

IT CAME FROM KUCHAR explores what it means to create on art's edges, while shunning all commercial success. The film's rhythm is a mesmerizing stream-of-consciousness style that effortlessly interweaves nostalgic footage of New York, a "greatest hits" collection of Kuchar clips and present day interviews of George and Mike and an all-star lineup of commentators including John Waters, Buck Henry, Atom Egoyan, Wayne Wang, Bill Griffith, Gerard Malanga, B. Ruby Rich and Guy Maddin.

In addition, George was an artist in the San Francisco, underground comic scene of the 1970's. His comics were published in Arcade alongside Robert Crumb's, Art Spiegelman's and Bill Griffith's. Griffith based his iconic, cult comic character Zippy the Pinhead on George. And Mike's erotic comics have regularly graced the pages of Gay Heart Throbs.

Pushing beyond their better-known thrills and spills of yesteryear, this immensely entertaining film illuminates their singular life story and what keeps them making brilliantly insane pictures yet today.

Affectionately directed by one of George’s former students, Jennifer M. Kroot, “It Came From Kuchar” will introduce you to the amazing Kuchar brothers – two brothers who love to make movies and continue to inspire others. Directed by Jennifer M. Kroot. USA, 2009, 86 mins.

Official Website: http://www.roxie.com