Part of The Coen Brothers Go West
Thursday, November 29, 2018, 7:00 p.m.
Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater

Dirs. Joel and Ethan Coen. 2018, 128 mins. DCP courtesy of Netflix. With Tom Waits, Tim Blake Nelson, Liam Neeson, Tyne Daly, Bill Heck, Zoe Kazan, James Franco. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is the eighteenth feature film directed, produced, and written by Joel and Ethan Coen. Originally conceived as a six-part television series, the project evolved into a feature-length anthology film. The six segments of The Ballad of Buster Scruggs vary widely in tone and style, and the film is at times absurdist, violent, mysterious, and lyrical. Yet the entire film is steeped in a love for classical Hollywood westerns, and also a desire to subvert and question the genre’s conventions. The film is also an excellent showcase for the unparalleled craftsmanship and attention to detail of the Coen brothers and their collaborators. In particular, the painstakingly detailed and boldly conceived work of costume designer Mary Zophres lends tremendous authenticity and texture to the film. Sixteen costumes designed by Zophres along with costume boards and other material are currently on view at the Museum in the exhibition The Coen Brothers Go West: Costume Design for The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. This special screening will be followed by a discussion with Zophres, moderated by Barbara Miller, Senior Curator of Collections and Exhibitions. The program will be followed by a reception and the exhibition will remain open for viewing.