Twisted
Seth Michael Donsky, director.
USA, 1996, 35mm, 100 min.

Based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, this dark near-millennium fable set in New York City follows the travails of Lee, a ten-year-old African-American runaway. Unwittingly, taken in by André, a lecherous brothel owner played by William Hickey (Prizzi's Honor), Lee quickly becomes immersed in a dangerous underworld of prostitution and drugs.

His only hope for survival is the aspiring songwriter Angel, a former hustler and drug dealer who befriends the streetwise urchin and rescues him form evil lords of this apocalyptic subculture. Adding a dose of fairy drag-motherly wisdom is the irrepressible Shiniqua, who serves a fierce combination of cocktails, attitude and miracles.

In this daring first feature, Off-Broadway director Seth Michael Donsky creates a razor sharp allegory packed with ominous truths. Strong performances by a tight ensemble cast make Twisted a must see.

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