In this special lecture, Les Blank will trace the evolution of his documentary filming style from his early works to the present. He will talk in between screenings of archival prints of two films from the late 1960s, God Respects Us When We Work, But Loves Us When We Dance, in which his camera glides through a 1967 love-in, and the musical portrait Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins, which features the lively combination of music, food, and anecdotes that has come to characterize Blank’s style.

God Respects Us When We Work, But Loves Us When We Dance Les Blank, Skip Gerson, U.S., 1968, 20 mins, Color, 16mm, Courtesy Academy Film Archive

The Blues Accordin’ to Lightnin’ Hopkins Les Blank with Skip Gerson, U.S., 1968, 31 mins, Color, 16mm, Courtesy Academy Film Archive



Followed by:
Hot Pepper (Les Blank with Maureen Gosling, U.S., 1973). A pulsating portrait of the Zydeco King, Clifton Chenier. (54 mins, Color, 16mm, From Flower Films)

Total running time: c. 150 mins