Decadence and Downfall in Iran: The Greatest Party in History
Barely 24 hours ago, the United States bombed nuclear sites in Iran: a military escalation of its type unseen in decades.
I am no fan of Iran’s Islamist regime: medievalist, antisemitic, misogynist, homophobic and fascistic. I remember, well, the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, the fall of the Shah and the rise of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini: one authoritarian regime replaced by another. Under both, the noble Iranian people suffered and suffer still. Relegating to the scrap heap of history the present Ayatollah would be a cause for universal rejoicing — especially on the streets of Tehran.
I do not have enough information or expertise to offer an opinion as to whether the mutual belligerencies of recent days vis-a-vis Israel / Iran / USA will further the hoped for cause of a peaceful and democratic Iran, of a more peaceful world. However, the current government of what was once known as Persia is anathema to everything humanist and just. The current government of Iran has the blood of thousands on its hands. It should have no defenders.
Sundays are my “read and watch documentaries day.” Today, Alfredo found this one. I urge you to take an hour and watch it. Marie Antoinette would blush at the excesses of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. It’s a gilded tale that sets the stage of the last 45 years, and of last night. In truth, no United States administration is blameless in any of this, from at least 1948 on.
Today marks 103 years since the grand opening of San Francisco’s beloved Castro Theatre, a landmark of cinematic excellence and a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ cultural history.
Over the past century, the Castro has hosted everything from silent films and classic cinema to community events, political rallies, and world-class live performances.
Now, as it enters its second century, the Theatre is undergoing a transformative $ 40 million renovation led by Another Planet Entertainment — a project that honors its storied legacy while adapting the space for the evolving needs of audiences and artists alike.
This is more than a facelift — it’s a reinvestment in the future of one of the city’s most iconic venues, ensuring it remains a gathering place for generations to come.
Michelangelo at the Movies: Art, Film, and the Legacy of a Genius
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Check out these cinematic explorations of Michelangelo’s life before (or after) you see the exhibition in San Francisco
“A man paints with his brains and not with his hands.” — Michelangelo
For centuries, Michelangelo’s genius has towered above history like his own David — colossal, iconic, and enduring. While millions have gazed up at his Sistine Chapel ceiling, fewer have seen the artist’s life and times brought vividly to life on screen. As Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition continues to draw crowds in San Francisco, now is the perfect moment to revisit how cinema has portrayed this Renaissance master — from high art to high drama.
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The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)
No list would be complete without this Hollywood classic. Starring Charlton Heston as Michelangelo and Rex Harrison as the imperious Pope Julius II, this widescreen epic dramatizes the creation of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Loosely adapted from Irving Stone’s novel of the same name, the film captures the tempestuous relationship between artist and patron, and the physical and emotional toll of Michelangelo’s monumental achievement. The dialogue is operatic, the costumes lavish, and the frescoes — even in Technicolor — glorious.
Bonus: The film opens with a brief documentary-style look at Michelangelo’s works — ideal for context before your visit to the exhibition.
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Sin: The Movie (2019)
Directed by acclaimed Russian filmmaker Andrei Konchalovsky, this Italian-language biopic Sin (Il Peccato) paints a raw and deeply human portrait of Michelangelo. Far from the aloof artist archetype, we see a man tormented by doubt, consumed by perfectionism, and caught between the Medici and Della Rovere factions. Gritty and intimate, it’s a powerful counterpoint to the mythic image of Michelangelo.
IMDb: Sin (2019)
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The Mill and the Cross (2011)
While not about Michelangelo directly, this extraordinary English-language film from Polish director Lech Majewski explores the creation of a single Renaissance masterpiece: Pieter Bruegel’s The Way to Calvary. With digitally enhanced visuals and a painterly aesthetic, the film reflects the burden and beauty of being an artist under pressure — themes that echo Michelangelo’s own struggles.
IMDb: The Mill and the Cross (2011)
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Other Appearances on Screen
• “The Medici: Masters of Florence” / “Medici: The Magnificent” (Netflix, 2016–2019) – Though Michelangelo only appears briefly (as a young apprentice in later episodes), the series offers political and cultural context for his early years in Florence under the Medici family’s patronage.
• “The Divine Michelangelo” (BBC, 2003) – A two-part dramatized documentary combining scholarly insight with period reenactments. Excellent background for exhibition-goers who want more history with their art.
• “Great Artists with Tim Marlow: Michelangelo” (UK, 2001) – A concise, engaging half-hour documentary hosted by art historian Tim Marlow. Accessible and informative.
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See the Masterpieces for Yourself — Up Close
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption 1111 Gough Street, San Francisco
Free on-site parking (first come, first served)
June 21 – September 14, 2025Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10:30am – 5:00pm (Last entry at 3:30pm) Duration: 60 to 90 minutes Tickets start at:$26 adults | $16 children $18 students & military | Kids 4 and under: FREE Wheelchair accessible | All ages welcome
Enhance your experience at the exhibition by downloading the free “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Exhibit” app / audio guide onto your smartphone. At each stop, scan the QR codes to listen to additional, fascinating details on each image.
Unlike in the Vatican — where the original frescoes soar 60 feet above — this exhibition places Michelangelo’s greatest works at eye level using high-definition licensed images and a proprietary technique that captures the texture and nuance of the original frescoes. Whether you’re a lifelong admirer or new to Renaissance art, this experience is designed to inspire awe.
Photography encouraged!
Tag your best shots and stories with #SistineChapelExhibit and #SEEGlobalSF
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COMING NEXT: From sculpture to ceiling, Michelangelo’s obsessive pursuit of beauty pushed the limits of human endurance. In our next entry, we’ll explore the iconography and symbolism hidden in The Creation of Adam — including the anatomical secrets scholars still debate today.
Secrets, Frescoes, and a Thriller Built on Stone: Upon This Rock and the Legacy of Michelangelo
What connects a mysterious death in modern-day Orvieto with a 16th-century papal conspiracy? In David Eugene Perry’s novel Upon This Rock, the answer lies buried beneath cathedrals, frescoes, and centuries of spiritual intrigue — the same artistic and religious legacy now on full display in Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition, in San Francisco through September 14.
Upon This Rock has been described by Tales of the City author Armistead Maupin as “an elegant twisty thriller about a couple who investigate a mysterious suicide.” Lambda Literary Award–winner Fenton Johnson calls it “the gay Da Vinci Code but a lot better.”
Now in a newly released second edition, the novel includes a map of Orvieto, a cast of characters, and updates. It’s also the subject of a screenplay adaptation currently being shopped.
Set in the stunning hilltop town of Orvieto, the story weaves together real history and fictional mystery, much of it inspired by the same forces that shaped the Sistine Chapel. The cover image comes from frescoes by Luca Signorelli in Orvieto’s Duomo — dramatic depictions of the Resurrection and Last Judgment that Michelangelo personally studied before beginning his own Last Judgment in the Vatican.
One of the novel’s most moving scenes — and one grounded in documented fact — takes place on the deathbed of Pope Clement VII. In Upon This Rock, Clement, a central figure, summons his childhood friend Michelangelo, whom he had grown up with in the house of Lorenzo de’ Medici in Florence. There, in a deeply emotional moment, Clement commissions Michelangelo to paint a Resurrection scene for the Sistine Chapel — a final act of faith and artistry as the Church reels from the aftermath of the Sack of Rome. Tragically, Clement dies in 1534 before the work begins. His successor, Pope Paul III, honoring the commission but altering its meaning, changes the subject to The Last Judgment — the massive and iconic fresco that still dominates the Sistine Chapel’s altar wall.
“A richly atmospheric, genre-blending mystery that balances historical depth with modern intrigue… relatable humanity in a plot dense with papal history, ecclesiastical politics, and esoteric symbols. Perry deftly intertwines timelines (alternating between present-day Orvieto and the post–Sack of Rome papacy of Clement VII), offering readers a blend of rich history and contemporary suspense.” — Kirkus Reviews, June 2025
“Upon This Rock is a satisfying, smart, and soulful read. It’s perfect for fans of Dan Brown who wish Robert Langdon had better fashion sense and a husband, or for anyone who loves Italy, history, and a dose of spiritual mystery with their aperitivo. It’s for readers who appreciate good writing, complex characters, and stories that unfold like cathedrals—beautiful, intricate, and full of hidden chambers.” — Literary Titan, May 2025
Just as Upon This Rock uncovers the hidden politics behind religious art, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition invites you to experience that very art — at eye level. No crowds, no time limits, no neck strain. This powerful installation, produced by SEE™ Global Entertainment and Martin Biallas, presents full-scale reproductions of Michelangelo’s ceiling and Last Judgment frescoes, allowing visitors to appreciate every detail in a way the Vatican itself never could.
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Plan Your Visit:
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption 1111 Gough Street, San Francisco
Free on-site parking (first come, first served)
June 21 – September 14, 2025 Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10:30am – 5:00pm (Last entry at 3:30pm)
Duration: 60 to 90 minutes
Tickets start at: $26 adults | $16 children $18 students & military | Kids 4 and under: FREE
This summer, walk among Michelangelo’s masterpieces in San Francisco — then follow the trail they inspire in Upon This Rock. Whether you start with the frescoes or the fiction, one thing is certain: the writing’s on the wall.
From Papal Drama to Artistic Triumph: The Untold Stories Behind The Last Judgment
“Genius is eternal patience.” – Michelangelo
From 1508 to 1512, under duress from Pope Julius II, Michelangelo created one of the greatest masterpieces in art history: the Sistine Chapel ceiling. He considered himself a sculptor — and said so, loudly — but was compelled to paint. Their relationship was famously stormy. Julius demanded. Michelangelo resisted. Genius was the result.
But did you know that The Last Judgment, the massive fresco on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel — painted two decades later — was also the product of papal pressure and personal history?
It was Giulio di Medici, Michelangelo’s childhood friend and devoted patron, who commissioned the work after becoming Pope Clement VII. Originally, he asked Michelangelo to paint The Resurrection. But Clement died in 1534 before work began. His successor, Pope Paul III, a savvy patron of the arts, kept the commission alive but changed the subject to The Last Judgment — a sweeping and powerful vision of heaven, hell, salvation, and damnation.
Michelangelo, now older and more introspective, poured his soul into the fresco. In one haunting moment, he even painted his own face into the scene — on the flayed skin of St. Bartholomew, held limply by the saint’s outstretched hand. It’s a chilling self-portrait: raw, vulnerable, and almost confessional. Here is the image:
But not everyone approved. After Michelangelo’s death, the Church — now under pressure from the Council of Trent and the growing Counter-Reformation — found the nudity scandalous. Pope Pius IV ordered that the offending bits be covered. The task fell to painter Daniele da Volterra, who added strategically placed loincloths and fig leaves to the nude figures, earning him the derisive nickname Il Braghettone — “the breeches-maker.”
The result is a work layered with drama, both divine and human — from childhood friendships and papal rivalries to artistic defiance and religious reform.
Now, for a limited time, you can experience these masterpieces up close — in a way the Vatican will never allow.
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street, San Francisco June 21 – September 14, 2025
This breathtaking exhibit — produced by SEE™ Global Entertainment and Martin Biallas — brings Michelangelo’s frescoes to eye level. No crowds. No time limits. No craning your neck 60 feet in the air. Just you and the art.
Come see the glory, the controversy, the genius — reimagined in San Francisco.
Visitors are encouraged to share their photos and social media posts with the following hashtags: #SEEGlobalSF #SistineChapelExhibit
Plan Your Visit:
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption 1111 Gough StreetFree on-site parking (first come, first served)
June 21 – September 14, 2025Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10:30am – 5:00pm (last entry at 3:30pm)
Duration: 60 to 90 minutes
Tickets start at $26 adults / $16 children Students & military: $18 | Kids 4 and under: FREE Wheelchair accessible All ages welcome
