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‘Pope of Trash' John Waters on the Power of Weird Queer Cinema

Mina Kim
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American filmmaker John Waters (L), and American actor Harris Glen Milstead (1945 - 1988), better known as Divine, pose for a photo outside the Waverly Theater at the premiere of Waters' film "Hairspray" on February 26, 1988 in New York City, New York. Divine died a week later, on March 7, 1988 in Hollywood, California at the age of 42. (Catherine McGann/Getty Images)

Airdate: Friday, March 13 at 10:40 – 11 AM

Director John Waters is known for his dark comedies that question social mores, gender, whiteness, suburbia and heterosexuality, like “Hairspray” (1988), “Pink Flamingos” (1972) and “Polyester” (1981). And he’s set to receive San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ film festival Frameline’s eponymous award for his lifelong contributions to queer cinema. Waters spent his “wild youth” in San Francisco, he says, calling the city the first place his provocative, campy and unpredictable films caught on. We’ll talk with Waters about what makes a great queer film, and the power of movies to challenge the status quo.

Guests:

John Waters, legendary director of works including "Hairspray" (1988), "Pink Flamingos" (1972) and "Polyester" (1981)

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