This screening will be the finale of Goethe-Institut and The Big Queer Picture Show’s three-part retrospective series on Rosa von Praunheim.
Both a loving portrait of a larger-than-life personality and a vivid record of New York’s 1970s bohemian demimonde, this captivating documentary follows chanteuse Tally Brown—cabaret diva, star of underground films, and a staple of Andy Warhol’s Factory scene—as she takes filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim on a tour through the grit and glamour of the city she loved. Capturing Brown’s mesmerizing performances (including her breathtaking bilingual cover of David Bowie’s “Heroes”) as well as her social world among fellow queer cult icons like Holly Woodlawn, Divine, and Taylor Mead, Tally Brown, New York is an essential snapshot of a downtown scene that has passed into legend. 2K restoration by the Deutsche Kinemathek, courtesy of Muscle Distribution.
“A must-see for all those interested in performance and the cultural history of New York in the '70s; the bewigged Miss Brown, with false eyelashes capable of sending her short, round body aloft, is the most mesmerizing raconteur and cabaret artist you'll hear this year.” - Melissa Anderson, The Village Voice
Rosa von Praunheim (born Holger Mischwitzky, 1942–2025) was a German filmmaker, writer, and one of the most influential gay rights activists in German-speaking Europe. His artist name Rosa refers to the pink triangle (rosa Winkel) that homosexuals were forced to wear in the Nazi concentration camps. A central figure of New German Cinema and queer counterculture, he made more than 150 films over five decades, consistently combining art, provocation, and political activism. Throughout his career, Praunheim remained a fierce advocate for queer visibility, addressing topics such as AIDS, historical repression, gender nonconformity, and aging. His confrontational style made him controversial, but his influence on LGBTQ+ politics, media representation, and queer cinema is unmatched.
The Goethe-Institut, Germany’s cultural institute, operates worldwide, fostering international cultural collaborations and promoting knowledge of the German language abroad. Our program of public events offers an opportunity to engage with themes and questions relevant to contemporary German culture and society. The Goethe-Institut Houston re-opened its doors in October 2025 and presents cultural programming in the Houston area including contemporary and classic German film screenings.
