NITRATE KISSES explores eroded emulsions and images for lost vestiges of lesbian and gay culture in this first feature by a pioneer of lesbian cinema, Barbara Hammer.

A forbidden and invisible history of a marginalized people are put in context by the contemporary sexual activities of four gay and lesbian couples.

The role of sexuality in the historic present underscores the resistance of two cultures, gay and lesbian, struggling to survive in the complex interaction of power and domination of a dominant heterosexist ideology.

"Passionate, subjective meditation on the repressed and marginalized history of gay women and men."
- Vincent Canby, The New York Times

"Vivid, lusty, impressionistic, Barbara Hammer appears to be leading a rising tide of lesbian filmmaking."
- John Anderson, NY Newsday

"NITRATE KISSES brings past and present into dialogue, mixing the sound of testimonials with the image of sex acts, refusing to allow its audience the escape of either amnesia, or invisibility." - B. Ruby Rich, pop culture critic

"NITRATE KISSES conjures history from shadows, layering the voices of lesbians and gay men into rhythmic lyric."
- Lawrence Chua, Artforum