Name: PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIP NIGHT
Start: 2025-02-27T19:30:00+00:00
End: 2025-02-27T22:30:00+00:00
Location: Beanbag Cinema

NCC presents two films about the alluring power of celebrity : Peter Watkins' PRIVILEGE & Julia Mellen's YUNG LEAN, PLEASE BE MY YUNG LOVE
About this Event

Normal Cinema Club is proud to present PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIP NIGHT, a double bill screening of Peter Watkins' PRIVILEGE and Julia Mellen's YUNG LEAN, PLEASE BE MY YUNG LOVE, two films about the alluring power of celebrity: both romantic and controlling.

PRIVILEGE follows Steven Shorter, Britain's biggest pop star. Clearly inspired by the rabid wave of Beatlemania, Steven has the entire population in the palm of his hand, all feverishly waiting to do as he says. But Steven is not a messiah-type figure with a message from on high, he is but a puppet for the government of the time. His songs and his public appearances embolden policy, the whims and desires of the ruling class are disseminated through his body and image. This brazen satire from the god of faux-doc Peter Watkins is filled with beautifully shocking compositions and eerily on-the-nose predictions. Did Watkins predict Taylor Swift being an agent of the deep state? We're going to say no for our own safety.

But the power of celebrity is not just limited to controlling the masses. Celebrity can conjure deep feelings of love and obsession too.

YUNG LEAN, PLEASE BE MY YUNG LOVE by Julia Mellen follows a young woman's pitch/plea to Swedish rap artist Yung Lean to become her betrothed. Through a web-cam confessional and a lovingly rendered 3D world, she lays out their Perfect Day together, proving that they would be the perfect pair. Very funny and sweet and endearing, this is a key text in understanding parasocial relationships and how great they make you feel !!

The Beanbag Cinema is a micro-cinema venue situated on the ground floor with a gender-neutral restroom. Please get in touch with any questions about accessibility. Doors will open at 7pm, with the first film beginning shortly after 7.30pm. There will be a short break before the feature. This is a strictly 18+ event.

Normal Cinema Club is supported by Cinema For All and FilmHubNI, and wishes to thank the Belfast Film Festival for their continued support, as well as Julia Mellen for her work :)