MOCA x NYAFF Film Club: Totally F***ed Up

MOCA x NYAFF Film Club is a quarterly program celebrating the brilliance and boldness of Asian and Asian American cinema. This series highlights films of historic and cultural significance under the theme Subversion, spotlighting daring films that challenge the norm, rewrite narratives, and push boundaries.

Each session is more than just a movie night—it’s an opportunity to connect, discover, and engage. Following the screening, join us for a moderated conversation to explore the film’s themes, creative impact, and cultural context. Attendees are encouraged to share their thoughts and continue the dialogue during a casual networking reception afterward.

Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in the world of bold cinema and meaningful connections. Let’s watch, chat, and celebrate together!

*This ticketing policy is not intended to create barriers based on financial status but rather to ensure the sustainability of our practice—helping us cover event costs while keeping it accessible and welcoming to all. All registrations are final. Unfortunately, we are unable to issue refunds under any circumstances at this time.

Totally F***ed Up (1993)

Directed by: Gregg Araki
Runtime: 78 minutes | Rated: Not Rated

Totally F***ed Up, written and directed by Gregg Araki, is a raw, poetic portrait of queer adolescence and alienation in early ’90s Los Angeles. The first installment of Araki’s “Teenage Apocalypse” trilogy, the film follows six gay and lesbian teenagers who form a fragile chosen family as they navigate love, friendship, and despair in a world that refuses to see them.

Andy (James Duval) is a vulnerable youth with a James Dean melancholy who believes love doesn’t exist—until he’s swept up by the alluring and more experienced Ian (Alan Boyce). Around them orbit Steven (Gilbert Luna), an aspiring filmmaker chronicling their lives; Deric (Lance May), Steven’s conflicted boyfriend; Tommy (Roko Belic), an easygoing skater; and Patty (Susan Behshid) and Michelle (Jenee Gill), a grounded lesbian couple who offer moments of stability within the chaos. Through fragmented vignettes, confessional interviews, and Godard-inspired intertitles, Araki captures the volatility of youth, the ache of disconnection, and the will to survive amid systemic rejection.

Premiering at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival, Totally F***ed Up became a cornerstone of New Queer Cinema, establishing Araki as one of its most provocative and visionary voices. Merging punk energy with emotional candor and avant-garde experimentation, Araki reimagined the American teen movie through a radical queer lens—illuminating the interior lives of young people on the margins and laying the groundwork for a new era of queer independent filmmaking.

Starring: James Duval, Susan Behshid, Jenee Gill, Gilbert Luna, Roko Belic

Stay after the screening for a conversation between MOCA’s Curator Herb Tam and NYAFF’s Executive Director Sam Jamier, starting at 8:20 PM. Explore the film’s deeper meanings and behind-the-scenes context before engaging in further discussions with fellow attendees over beverages.

ABOUT New York Asian Film Festival

The New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) is North America’s premier event showcasing the very best in new Asian cinema. Held annually in July at Film at Lincoln Center and various venues across New York City, NYAFF is celebrated for its bold, diverse, and dynamic programming.

The festival highlights a wide spectrum of films—from emerging voices to masterful auteurs—spanning genres such as cutting-edge blockbusters, independent treasures, and groundbreaking works.

As a vital platform for Asian filmmakers, NYAFF fosters cross-cultural dialogue and champions the innovation, creativity, and richness of Asian storytelling on a global stage.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Museum of Chinese in America