Begotten

Begotten returns in a newly restored 4K presentation. E. Elias Merhige’s stark, experimental cult film presents a nightmarish creation myth in grainy black-and-white, following God Killing Himself, Mother Earth, and Son of Earth through cycles of birth, violence, death, and rebirth. The film’s deliberately archaic visual style came from shooting on 16mm and re-photographing the footage over several years, creating the appearance of a mysterious artifact from an ancient or post-apocalyptic world.

Initially rejected by conventional distributors, Begotten found an audience through festivals, word of mouth, home video, and the support of artists, critics, and cinephiles. This 4K restoration preserves the film’s obscure, organic texture and intense, unsettling impact. The screening is presented as part of the Late Show series.

When: November 5–8

Showtimes: November 5 at 10:30 p.m.; November 6 at 10:30 p.m.; November 7 at 10:30 p.m.; November 8 at 4:30 p.m.

Tickets: Price not available

Venue: Brattle Theatre

Director: E. Elias Merhige

Starring: Brian Salzburg, Donna Dempsey, and Stephen Charles Barry

Run time: 72 minutes

Format: 4K DCP

Release year: 1991

Presentation: The Late Show: New 4K Restoration

Content: The film contains disturbing, occult-tinged imagery and graphic themes involving creation, torture, death, and bodily destruction. It is described as an intense avant-garde work that may not be suitable for sensitive viewers.