“The Queen of Underground Cinema” –New York Press

As part of Arkadin’s Female Filmmakers on the Edge series, Arkadin presents a double feature from “the Queen of Underground Cinema,” Sarah Jacobson! Jacobson’s punk-spirited DIY films from the 1990s combine B-movie aesthetics and riot grrrl feminism, standing as a testament to the vision, determination, and raw talent of Jacobson, who was sadly ripped from this world too soon when she died of endometrial cancer in 2002 at the age of 32.

MARY JANE’S NOT A VIRGIN ANYMORE, Jacobson’s only feature film, is a vibrant and vital antidote to every phony Hollywood teen picture, bringing lo-fi realness to the coming-of-age genre. Styled as a feminist fuck-you to John Hughes’ ultra-square Pretty in Pink—”I could give a shit if that geek [Ducky] gets laid,” Jacobson once sneered—MARY JANE’s no-budge hangout vibes makes it a Slacker for punks, rad-fems, schizos, and queers. Punk legends Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) and Davey Havok (AFI) make appearances, and the soundtrack is packed with the best of midwest punk, including The Replacements, The Loudmouths, and Babes in Toyland.
“This movie is everything. The femme punk soundtrack, the diy-vibe, the realness of sex and friendships, the openness in dialogue about female sexuality, rape, pregnancy, gender roles, power dynamics.” -Emalie, Letterboxd

I WAS A TEENAGE SERIAL KILLER, a 27-minute short, is Slacker meets Valerie Solanas, as a 19-year-old woman responds to catcalls, condescension, and bad sex the only way she knows how: murder. Taking on every major function from production through distribution, Sarah Jacobson proved herself as a shit-kicker and rule-breaker, finding fans in filmmakers Allison Anders (Gas Food Lodging) and Tamra Davis (Guncrazy, Billy Madison), as well as Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth.
“This film is a blunt instrument propelled at the head of the your least favorite sexist pigs.” -Sally Jane Black, Letterboxd

This film is presented as part of Arkadin’s FEMALE FILMMAKERS ON THE EDGE, exploring works by female directors that boldly challenge conventions and expand the scope of what cinema can be.

Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.