Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Release: Variety

Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: Sept. 29, 2020
Price: DVD $13.99, Blu-ray $19.99
Studio: Kino Lorber

Bette Gordon’s 1983 drama Variety remains a cornerstone of indie film that emerged out of the underground NYC arts scene that produced the late ’80s boom in American independent cinema.

Challenging notions about feminism and pornography, the film follows Christine (Sandy McLeod, Something Wild), a bright and unassuming young woman, after she takes a job selling tickets at a porno theater near Times Square. Christine soon develops an obsession that begins to consume her life, finding self-expression through an interest in porn, which marks for major changes in her relationships with guys like Mark (Will Patton, Halloween), her boyfriend, and Louie (Richard Davidon, TV’s Law & Order), a dangerous-looking patron of the theater.

Here presented in a 2K restoration from the original camera negative overseen by director Gordon, Variety contains the contributions of an impressive array of talent, including cinematographer Tom DiCillo (When You’re Strange), actor Luis Guzman (Boogie Nights) and a score by actor and musician John Lurie (Downtown 81).

Here’s a rundown on the bonus features:

-Anybody’s Woman (1981, short film directed by Bette Gordon)
-Audio commentary with director Bette Gordon moderated by writer Hillary Weston
-Gallery of production stills by Nan Goldin
-Location scouting stills gallery
-Storyboard illustrations by Bette Gordon
-Trailers