Bruce LaBruce's 'Saint-Narcisse' Explores Queer Family and Porn Aesthetics

Bruce LaBruce's film 'Saint-Narcisse' premiered at the 17th edition of the Giornate degli Autori during the 77th Venice International Film Festival. The film reimagines the Greek myth of Narcissus for the age of social media, following protagonist Dominic, who is obsessed with his own image and takes Polaroid selfies. After his grandmother's death, he discovers his mother is alive and embarks on a journey to find her. He learns his mother is a lesbian living with a woman who turns out to be his sister, and that he has a twin brother, Daniel, living in a monastery. The story explores themes of family reunion, incest, and the breakdown of traditional hierarchies. LaBruce co-wrote the script with Martin Girard. The film blends pornographic aesthetics with sentimental cinema, referencing gay iconography such as Saint Sebastian and leather culture. LaBruce, a Canadian filmmaker known for queercore and art, has long pushed boundaries in depicting taboo subjects. The film's visual style evokes 1970s and 1980s photography. LaBruce previously founded the punk magazine J.D.s with G.B. Jones, focusing on fluid gender identities.