About this Event
7th House is proud to present the first known U.S. theatrical screening in nearly four decades of Jamil Dehlavi’s BORN OF FIRE (1987), a hallucinatory and unusual metaphysical odyssey steeped in Islamic mysticism and the mythology of the jinn. Marketed upon its original release as a horror film, Born of Fire is something considerably stranger and far more difficult to categorize: a collision of supernatural fantasy, mystical quest, avant-garde art film and spiritual allegory, rendered in a succession of surreal, often startling images that at times recall the visionary cinema of Alejandro Jodorowsky.
A Pakistani filmmaker working between cultures, a British cast, the otherworldly landscapes of Turkey, a demonic Master Musician who shoots fire from his eyes, mystical flute battles, subterranean caverns, visions, rituals and transformations—Dehlavi stirs it all into a feverish, visually astonishing work that veers freely between the eerie, the beautiful, the profound and the wonderfully bizarre. Imagine supernatural folk horror colliding with the mystical, surrealist audacity of Jodorowsky and you’re somewhere in the vicinity, though BORN OF FIRE ultimately resembles very little besides itself.
Peter Firth (Equus, Tess) stars as Paul Bergson, a classical flautist plagued by visions and mysterious music following the death of his father. His search for answers takes him and his lover (Suzan Crowley) to the remote landscape of Cappadocia in pursuit of the elusive Master Musician, an enigmatic figure connected to his father’s death. There Paul enters an increasingly uncanny world where music carries supernatural power and the boundaries between human and jinn, earthly and otherworldly, begin to dissolve.
Made while Dehlavi was living in exile in England after his previous film, THE BLOOD OF HUSSAIN (1980), was banned in Pakistan following General Zia-ul-Haq’s military coup, Born of Fire draws deeply from Islamic mysticism, transforming its spectacular Turkish locations into an alien spiritual terrain of rock formations, caves, thermal pools and underground spaces. Accompanied by Colin Towns’ haunting score, the film increasingly abandons anything resembling conventional genre logic for the logic of ritual, myth and nightmare.
Long difficult to see before re-emerging through a high-definition remaster, BORN OF FIRE is wildly imaginative, deeply idiosyncratic and filled with strange, striking images that linger long after the film is over. Nearly four decades after its original release, we’re thrilled to share this singular vision on the big screen.
Dir. Jamil Dehlavi, 1987, 84 mins, United Kingdom, English, Rated R, Digital.
Tickets: $12 (All Screenings Are In Person Only)
Please email [email protected] or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.
ADVISORY DISCLAIMER
With some exception, The Philosophical Research Society’s 7th House Screenings does not typically provide advisory warnings about potentially upsetting content or subject matter, as sensitivities are particular to each viewer. Please be sure to read event listings, research on the web, or visit Common Sense Media, IMDb, and DoesTheDogDie.com for thorough info on content and age-appropriateness. If you have any specific content advisory questions, please email [email protected].
CONTENT DISCLAIMER
The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed within exhibited works are solely those of their creators and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Screenings are intended for educational and entertainment purposes.
ACCESSIBILITY
PRS wants all guests to be able to enjoy our events safely and comfortably. If you require any accessibility accommodation, please reach out to [email protected] before showtime and we will be happy to assist you.
REFUND POLICIES
All sales are final. There are no refunds for PRS events.
In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event.
PARKING
Limited parking is available onsite at PRS in both the front lot (entry from Los Feliz Blvd. when heading east), as well as street parking on Griffith Park Blvd. and (after 7 PM) on Los Feliz Blvd. We encourage attendees to consider carpooling, walking or biking to events if possible, and please be considerate of our Los Feliz neighbors when parking.
PRS EVENT POLICIES
- We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
- Events are subject to change without notice, including guest speakers and/or performers.
- We encourage you to arrive at least 30 min. before the scheduled event start time to find parking, enjoy the Bookstore and take your seats.
- Please turn off all mobile devices before the show. Talking and texting are not allowed during the events.
- No filming, audio recording or mobile phone recording of events, screenings, concerts or other programs by audience members is allowed without permission.
- There is no smoking permitted on PRS grounds.
- We strongly encourage guests to wear masks to PRS events to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
- PRS allows Service Animals into the facility under ADA and state guidelines. For further details please visit www.ADA.gov. No animals permitted whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support, under ADA guidelines and CA Health Code.
- Please do not bring outside food or drink into PRS events.
- Weapons are strictly prohibited at PRS events.
Event venue & nearby stays
Philosophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.