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This screening will be introduced by Robert Hughes, Australian Cinémathèque. It replaces the previously advertised screening of The Spook Who Sat by the Door 1973, which has been postponed to 2026 due to shipping delays caused by the US Government shutdown.

William Friedkin's controversial cult classic Cruising 1980 finds Detective Steve Burns (Al Pacino) going undercover to hunt for a serial killer preying on gay men in New York's underground club scene. A chilling mood piece that drips with style, the film was a contentious and polarising work even before its premiere; it was protested during its production and Friedkin was forced to cut more than 40 minutes of footage to avoid a prohibitive 'X' rating from the classification board. Upon release, Cruising met with largely negative reviews and was the subject of intense debate over whether it was exploitative of the queer community. In the ensuing decades, however, the film has been re-evaluated and reclaimed by many critics and filmmakers, who have praised its palpable atmosphere and its complex exploration of violence, sexuality and identity.

Please note: this film contains scenes of sexual violence.

R18+