TERMINAL ISLAND (1973) 

• Director: Stephanie Rothman
• Cast: Ena Hartman, Phyllis Davis, Don Marshall, Tom Selleck
• Film: 88mins | USA | Subtitles | Intermission
• Event: 20:45 – 23:15 [18+]

GIRL TRASH: CELEBRATING THE GODDESSES OF EXPLOITATION CINEMA

Next up in our GIRL TRASH journey: Stephanie Rothman’s Trojan Trash Horse, TERMINAL ISLAND (1973).

In place of the death penalty, society’s most dangerous people are dumped on a remote island and left to fend for themselves – think Lord of the Flies but with double denim. Newly sentenced Carmen (Ena Hartman) arrives on the island to find that civilisation has been recreated in its most tedious form — hierarchy, patriarchy and brute force. But Carmen has other ideas…

Rothman’s bargain with the industry was simple. She would deliver the exploitation films the market demanded – but she would direct them her way. With or without her, TERMINAL ISLAND was always going to be a women-in-prison picture. What only Rothman could supply was an unexpectedly sensitive study of social dynamics between anti-social people, operating beneath the obligatory smokescreen of sex and violence.

As she later put it, “I didn’t always get to choose the subjects of the film, but I did have control over the attitude toward and the treatment of the subjects. In this respect, I didn’t feel compromised or constrained.”

We’re lucky enough to be joined by co-hosts Selina Robertson and Isabel Moir, whose brilliant Cinema of Stephanie Rothman season at the Barbican gave us all the chance to see the rarely screened films of this overlooked auteur. Join us to celebrate a host of GIRL TRASH GODDESSES, from director Stephanie Rothman to actresses Ena Hartman and Phyllis Davis.

Polite notice: We are projecting TERMINAL ISLAND with subtitles from the best available digital source. The film was originally awarded an ‘X’ rating by the BBFC making it strictly for adults only.

/// GIRL TRASH celebrates the femme filmmakers of trash and exploitation cinema, hosted by Zodiac Film Club and Token Homo. All films are served with introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50 + fees. Adults 18+ only. Follow @zodiacfilmclub and @tokenhomo on Instagram for info and updates. Please contact the venue for access information. ///

Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery. www.filmlondon.org.uk/film-hub-london