Exclusive Screening of “SICK: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan”
Post screening Q&A with legendary performance artist and co-star of SICK, Sheree Rose!
”Fight sickness with sickness” ~ Bob Flanagan
“This film does a remarkable thing in presenting extreme, sometimes revolting material and simultaneously making us like and admire Flanagan” – Edward Guthmann, San Fran disco Chronicle
The film chronicles Flanagan for several years leading up to his death in 1996. It explores various aspects of his life, artwork, and philosophy through interviews and other personal footage depicting Flanagan, his wife Sheree Rose, and the Flanagan family. Sick also features Flanagan’s home movies, performance videos, and video diaries, as well as an excerpt of Flanagan’s performance in the music video for “Happiness in Slavery” by Nine Inch Nails.
In the film, Flanagan explains his use of BDSM for sexual gratification and also as a therapeutic device to take control over his body from cystic fibrosis. He discusses his conceptual, performance, and video art, which often relates to pain, illness, medicine, and sexuality. Flanagan also serves as a camp counselor for children with cystic fibrosis and meets with a young woman with cystic fibrosis who visits him under the auspices of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Sick details Flanagan’s lifelong struggle with cystic fibrosis, as well as his eventual death. Flanagan had agreed to participate in the film under the condition that his death be included in the final project.
