For those who have wished for a Chicago-set film about queer sex workers, kink, religion, and talking to the dead—haven’t we all?—your prayers have finally been answered with Holy Trinity. The debut feature from performance artist Molly Hewitt (who also goes by the moniker Glamhag) is dripping with style and poignant commentary on the intersection of power and pleasure.
Holy Trinity makes a point to note that, while they may look similar on paper, not all kinds of subordination are created equal. Consensual BDSM play, whether through Trinity’s personal relationship with Baby or her work relationships with her clients, is a different animal than the inescapable day-to-day subordination of people through often oppressive institutions. And there’s power in choosing to be subordinate, rather than having it forced upon you.
One of Holy Trinity’s most impactful assets lies in the production design helmed by the LA-based artist and music producer Mood Killer. Every room in Trinity’s apartment is expertly monochrome, and there is a clear mix of futuristic branding intertwined with the surrounding city. The “Glamhag” consumer brand is fully realized with a colorful yet soulless style, reminiscent of similarly friendly seeming corporations.
Dir. Molly Hewitt, 91 min. Available to rent and buy at fullspectrumfeatures.com.
