Boy Next Door/ Naked and Famous: Tricky
Boy Next Door, directed by Mark Kidel, UK, 51'
The film was made at a time when Boy George was returning as a solo artist after a difficult period of heroin addiction. It tells the story of his rise to fame as the androgynous star of Culture Club, as well as his later downfall and self-destructive behavior. Friends and family members provide valuable insights, complementing George’s own candid and humorous account of his highs, lows, and eventual comeback. Writer Jon Savage offers a sharp analysis of the artist’s inner struggles, who, as George himself admits, felt he had betrayed his identity by presenting himself in Culture Club as an asexual, doll-like figure at a time when openly speaking about homosexuality could have jeopardized mainstream success in the music world.
Naked and Famous: Tricky, directed by Mark Kidel, UK 1997, 52'
Kidel’s first independently made documentary Naked and Famous is a surprisingly intimate and honest portrait of the musical genius and rebel from Bristol. Adrian Thaws, known as Tricky, proudly speaks about his “mongrel” family and his creative journey, from the world of Gypsy performers and mixed-heritage gangsters in the working-class neighborhood of Knowle West to international recognition as one of the most original musicians of his generation. A film about passion, instinct, and the courage to be oneself, against all odds.
