
Love Left the Masquerade: Peter Medak's Cinema of Pretenders(2025)
Playing at games, acting out names, guessing the parts they played
Peter Medak's films toy with notions of cosplay, masquerade, gamesmanship, and how power and permission structures figure into these human diversions. His filmography includes The Ruling Class (1972), The Changeling (1980), A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (1971), The Krays (1990), and others, all which capitalize on these ideas. Sanity is fragile, ephemeral, and suspended from a very thin tether in all his films. This piece gets to the bottom of why Medak centers his work on such themes, and why they carry biographical weight for him personally.
Movie: Love Left the Masquerade: Peter Medak's Cinema of Pretenders

Love Left the Masquerade: Peter Medak's Cinema of Pretenders
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Peter Medak's films toy with notions of cosplay, masquerade, gamesmanship, and how power and permission structures figure into these human diversions. His filmography includes The Ruling Class (1972), The Changeling (1980), A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (1971), The Krays (1990), and others, all which capitalize on these ideas. Sanity is fragile, ephemeral, and suspended from a very thin tether in all his films. This piece gets to the bottom of why Medak centers his work on such themes, and why they carry biographical weight for him personally.
Release Date
2025-06-17
Average
10
Rating:
5.0 startsTagline
Playing at games, acting out names, guessing the parts they played
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