The American AstronautFinal screening!This Sundance-lauded sci-fi musical western, written and directed by lead actor/musician Cory McAbee (of San Francisco alt-rock renegades, The Billy Nayer Show and
Stingray Sam fame) is a singular work of kooky American genius.
McAbee plays ruggedly handsome, hard-boiled interplanetary trader Samuel Curtis, on a journey through space in search of a male 'offering' for the toyboy-challenged female denizens of Venus.
Along the way he finds time to drop into a saloon on Ceres and enter a dance-off with his old drinking buddy, the Blueberry Pirate, all the while trying to evade the deranged Professor Hess who is intent on doing him in.
Still not entirely clear on the plot? Trust us, come and be initiated into this ingeniously lo-fi indie gem with its Three Stooges-esque humour, flinty black and white photography and intrepid frontier spirit.
ACMI bids our favourite filmic space cowboy farewell at the final screening on December 31.
"Mad scientists, props worthy of Ed Wood and a string of memorable tunes make this a worthy entry in the retro-futuristic sexy Z-movie musical genre" Bright Lights Film Journal
