Chasing Chasing Amy

Although it’s been picked over and picked apart for more than 25 years, Kevin Smith’s romantic dramedy “Chasing Amy” saved somebody’s life. That person is Sav Rodgers, who wrestles with the 1997 film’s complicated place in queer cinema and what it meant to him as a young queer man in Kansas.

Kevin Smith’s “Chasing Amy” (1997) served as a cultural lightning rod for independent film in the mid-90s, igniting controversy for its depiction of a lesbian who falls for a man as told through a straight lens. But for trans filmmaker Sav Rodgers, the film served as a gateway to queer self-awareness before even learning the existence of a world of queer film. In the tradition of “The Celluloid Closet” (1995), CHASING CHASING AMY examines the missteps and surprising insights of Smith’s film in equal measure. As Rodgers’ journey continues while interviewing the film’s creators, his documentary reveals truths behind the narrative, becoming a statement about how we reckon with the imperfect legacy of the art that shapes us. —C.F.

Content Warning: This film contains material that may be difficult for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.

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