Ganja & Hess

Flirting with the conventions of blaxploitation and horror, Bill Gunn’s revolutionary independent film Ganja & Hess is a highly stylized and utterly original... Read more

Ganja & Hess

Directed by Bill Gunn

Year: 1973
Running Time: 113
Color Type: Color
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Country: U.S.
Language: English
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Ganja & Hess

Cast
Mabel King
Leonard Jackson
Sam Waymon
Duane Jones
Marlene Clark
Bill Gunn

Crew
Writer Bill Gunn
Produced by Chiz Schults
Directed by Bill Gunn


Flirting with the conventions of blaxploitation and horror, Bill Gunn’s revolutionary independent film Ganja & Hess is a highly stylized and utterly original treatise on sex, religion, and African American identity. Duane Jones (Night of the Living Dead) stars as anthropologist Hess Green, who is stabbed with an ancient ceremonial dagger by his unstable assistant (director Bill Gunn), bestowing upon him the blessing of immortality... and the curse of an unquenchable thirst for blood. When the assistant’s beautiful and outspoken wife Ganja (Marlene Clark) comes searching for her missing husband, she and Hess form an unexpected partnership. Together, they explore just how much power blood holds.

Later recut and released in an inferior version, this edition represents the original release, restored by The Museum of Modern Art with support from The Film Foundation, and mastered in HD from a 35mm negative.

Reviews

"A sensual, scholarly, magic-realist exploration of black history and black desire."

– A. O. Scott, The New York Times

"An underground classic! The most complicated, intriguing, subtle, sophisticated and passionate black film of the '70s."

– James Monaco, American Film Now

"A blood-soaked masterpiece. One of the most profound, surreal and horrifying love stories ever made."

– Complex

"A visionary filmmaker."

– Richard Brody, The New Yorker


Awards

  • Official Selection Cannes Film Festival

Press Kit

Hi-Res Poster

Hi-Res Images

Trailer Embed Code

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PLAYDATES

Venue City Date
Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn Brooklyn 1540872000October 30, 2018
American Cinematheque - Egyptian Theatre Los Angeles 1540785600October 29, 2018
Alamo Drafthouse, Cedars Dallas 1540267200October 23, 2018
Alamo Drafthouse Denton Denton 1540267200October 23, 2018
Alamo Drafthouse Las Colinas Irving 1540267200October 23, 2018
Alamo Drafthouse Lake Highlands Dallas 1540180800October 22, 2018
Alamo Drafthouse Corpus Christi Corpus Christi 1539662400October 16, 2018
Alamo Drafthouse Laredo Laredo 1539662400October 16, 2018
Alamo Drafthouse Marketplace New Braunfels 1539662400October 16, 2018
Alamo Drafthouse Park North San Antonio 1539662400October 16, 2018


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