Visually inspired by Vladimír Suchánek’s lithographic prints in the Smart Museum of Art’s collection, “Friends From High School” is an exploration in visibility. Both in terms of its subject matter and its style, this short film, shot in color on 16 mm, makes and takes the space to showcase a lesbian relationship.

While the subtext of having a “friend from high school” can be synonymous with an early queer love, the majority of queer films do not engage with the gray areas of relationships.

In addition to LGBTQ+ visibility, this film engages with art historical representation. Vladimír Suchánek is one of the most renowned Czech artists of the late 20th Century, though most of the writing and research related to his craft remains untranslated. This project-in conjunction with a research fellowship at the Smart Museum of Art-is one of the first English-language interpretations of his work.