Glittering casino lights and a decaying desert oasis set the scene for this challenging, subversive and radically feminist film by Nina Menkes, one of America’s foremost independent filmmakers. Queen of Diamonds follows Firdaus, a tough blackjack dealer (played by the filmmaker’s sister, Tinka Menkes) whose profound alienation causes her to become a minor character in her own story. Negotiating a missing husband, domestic violence and the mind-numbing repetition of Las Vegas shift work, Firdaus drifts from sun-drenched day to neon night and back again—yet captivating moments of mystery and wonder punctuate the bleakness of her life. Hypnotic and intense, Queen of Diamonds is a rich and rewarding feminist classic: a must-watch for fans of avant-garde brilliance.
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Want more? Check out Watch List: It Will All Come Out in the Wash. The films in this series challenge the fundamentally sexist mode of filmmaking that has dominated popular films for decades.
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