The Cathedral of New Emotions and “Asparagus”
On a shortlist with Belladonna of Sadness and Fantastic Planet as one of the most surreal, psychedelic and truly cosmic animated features ever made, German director Helmut Herbst’s utterly insane The Cathedral of New Emotions follows a commune of Berlin stoners and intellectuals who get set adrift in space in 1972 in a packing container clutched in a giant flying hand. A true hallucinogenic space freakout if there ever was one: imagine Ralph Bakshi animating an R-rated version of John Carpenter’s Dark Star. In other words: set the controls for the heart of the sun.
In German with English subtitles.
Showing with: “Asparagus” (Suzan Pitt, 1979, USA, 19 minutes) Missouri native Suzan Pitt, a December 2006 guest of the Webster Film Series, completed this legendary work of experimental animation just in time for it to play on a program with David Lynch’s then-new Eraserhead as it became a runaway midnight movie success. B. Ruby Rich called “Asparagus” “one of the most important works of imagination seen in some time,” and animator and animation historian John Canemaker has called it “one of the most lavish and wondrous animated shorts ever made.”
The Webster University Film Series, St. Louis' cinematic alternative since 1979, is a nationally known and recognized year-round film exhibition program. The Midwest's premiere hosting venue for American and foreign features, documentaries, classic and experimental cinema, and national and international artists presenting their work, the Series represents a genuine cinematic alternative in the St. Louis community.
Additionally, the Webster University Film Series has become the location for many national tours of international cinema, often acting as the only such venue in Missouri. The Series is host to speakers and visiting artists who address the pertinent issues in films presented. In an effort to further integrate film with education, the Film Series provides workshops with artists and experts.
The Winifred Moore Auditorium is the home of the Webster University Film Series. Originally used as a chapel, it now boasts the most comfortable theatre seats. The auditorium seats 240.
Unless otherwise noted, admission is:
$8 for the general public
$7 for seniors, Webster alumni and students from other schools
$6 for Webster University staff and faculty
Free for Webster students with proper ID.
Webster offers general admission seating with payment of cash, check, or credit.
