Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon

An unflinching, stylized portrait of painter Francis Bacon (Derek Jacobi) and his tumultuous love affair with small-time crook George Dyer (Daniel Craig) from visionary filmmaker John Maybury. Bacon is at the height of his fame in the 1960s when a would-be thief breaks into his studio—sparking curiosity and desire in the artist’s eye. Thus begins an addictive romance melding personal infatuation with messy dynamics, as spirits of domination and naivete co-mingle.

Writer/director Maybury tells this turbulent story with an acerbic wit and fragmented formalism befitting the titular artist and his work. This undersung festival hit, which premiered in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998, features fully committed standout performances from Jacobi and Craig with a deliciously dedicated eye to the power of passion.

Queering the Canon: So Obsessed is presented in partnership with NewFest

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