IMDb Picks: Must-See Documentaries About Fascinating People3 of 24
Portrait of Jason | Available to Stream on The Criterion Channel and Available to Rent on Prime Video
Subject: With a cigarette in one hand and a cocktail in the other, Aaron Payne, alias Jason Holliday, shares stories and observations of what it's like to be black and gay in 1960s America.
Our Take: This is more than one man's drunk history. Throughout her career, documentarian Shirley Clarke captured moments with fringe characters who gave New York City the grit and texture that has been scrubbed away over time. Portrait of Jason, which Clarke filmed over a 12-hour period in Jason Holliday's room at the fabled Chelsea Hotel, is a confrontational work of art that continues to find new audiences. Fun fact: The doc was added to the National Film Registry in 2015. — Arno
Subject: With a cigarette in one hand and a cocktail in the other, Aaron Payne, alias Jason Holliday, shares stories and observations of what it's like to be black and gay in 1960s America.
Our Take: This is more than one man's drunk history. Throughout her career, documentarian Shirley Clarke captured moments with fringe characters who gave New York City the grit and texture that has been scrubbed away over time. Portrait of Jason, which Clarke filmed over a 12-hour period in Jason Holliday's room at the fabled Chelsea Hotel, is a confrontational work of art that continues to find new audiences. Fun fact: The doc was added to the National Film Registry in 2015. — Arno
PeopleJason Holliday
TitlesPortrait of Jason