About the film
The Blasphemers' Banquet is a 1989 documentary film from the United Kingdom, directed by Peter Symes and made in English. It is a film-poem created by English poet and playwright Tony Harrison. The work examines censorship connected to religious issues.
Its subject is presented through the form of a poetic documentary rather than a conventional factual film. The film was created partly in response to the controversy surrounding Salman Rushdie’s publication of The Satanic Verses, linking its discussion of censorship to a specific religious and literary dispute. The Blasphemers' Banquet was broadcast by the BBC programme Byline on 31 July 1989.
The listed maker is Peter Symes, while Tony Harrison is identified as the creator of the film-poem. DocumentaryTube lists it as a documentary film from 1989, with English-language presentation and United Kingdom origin.
Who it is for
It suits viewers interested in documentary films about censorship, religion and literary controversy. English-language documentary fans and students examining 1980s United Kingdom filmmaking may also find it relevant.
Worth knowing
- Examines censorship arising from religious issues
- Uses a film-poem format
- Addresses the Salman Rushdie controversy
- Broadcast by BBC programme Byline
Before you press play
- Focuses on a specific 1989 controversy
- English-language presentation only
The short of it
The Blasphemers' Banquet combines poetic form with a focused examination of censorship and religious issues. Its connection to the Salman Rushdie controversy gives the film a clear historical and cultural context.