Past Film/Video | Documentaries

Strange Culture

(Lynn Hershman Leeson, 2007)

A black and white drawing of three figures. The two on the left and right wear sunglasses and have hands atop the head of the third and appear to be pushing them in a open door

Lynn Hershman Leeson’s hybrid documentary Strange Culture examines the case of Steve Kurtz, an artist/activist who was charged as a bioterrorist by the federal government after a makeshift lab with biological specimens was discovered in his home.

Hershman Leeson uses actors (Thomas Jay Ryan as Kurtz, and Tilda Swinton as his deceased wife, Hope) to discuss the case as Kurtz was legally prevented from doing so at the time. Kurtz’s lab was discovered when medics were called to the house when his wife died suddenly from heart failure. Many believe the charges against Kurtz stemmed from his frequent criticism of the US Food and Drug Administration. Kurtz was never indicted; in 2008, a judge dismissed the remaining charges of mail and wire fraud. (75 mins., DCP)

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"Alternately teasing and terrifying, Strange Culture is a near-perfect alignment of subject and form. In its creative assessment of our current judicial climate, the need for artistic freedom has seldom seemed so urgent."
New York Times
A black and white drawing of three figures. The two on the left and right wear sunglasses and have hands atop the head of the third and appear to be pushing them in a open door

Strange Culture | Image courtesy of Strand Releasing

Image of several petri dishes sitting on top of a lighted table. A pair of hands hovers over them

Strange Culture | Image courtesy of Strand Releasing

Two people, both wearing black shirts and blue jeans sit in front of a black wall. The person on the right has long, blond shoulder-length hair and the person on the right has shorter brown hair

Strange Culture | Image courtesy of Strand Releasing

A black and white image of four square panels, similar to a comic book.

Strange Culture | Image courtesy of Strand Releasing

An image of Tilda Swinton seated and staring at someone else in the frame. Just behind her is the profile of a person looking over her shoulder

Strange Culture | Image courtesy of Strand Releasing

FILM/VIDEO PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY
Cardinal Health
Kaufman Development

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Rohauer Collection Foundation

WEXNER CENTER PROGRAMS MADE POSSIBLE BY
The Wexner Family
Greater Columbus Arts Council
Mary and C. Robert Kidder
L Brands Foundation
American Electric Power Foundation
The Columbus Foundation
Ohio Arts Council
Bill and Sheila Lambert
Adam Flatto
Huntington
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Nationwide Foundation
Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease
Arlene and Michael Weiss

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
Carol and David Aronowitz
Michael and Paige Crane
Axium Packaging
Fenwick & West LLP
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
KDC/ONE
M/I Homes
Ohio State Energy Partners
Regina Miracle International Ltd.
Washington Prime Group
Alene Candles
Lisa Barton
Fuel Transport
Russell and Joyce Gertmenian
Liza Kessler and Greg Henchel
Nancy Kramer
Matrix Psychological Services
Paramount Group, Inc.
Bruce and Joy Soll
Clark and Sandra Swanson
Business Furniture Installations
CASTO
E.C. Provini Co, Inc.
Garlock Printing & Converting
M-Engineering
New England Development
Our Country Home
Performance Team
Premier Candle Corporation
ProAmpac
Steiner + Associates
Textile Printing
Andrew and Amanda Wise

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Past Film/Video

Strange Culture