A Body to Live In opens with a striking image: a young Fakir Musafar with a leather belt cinched around his waist — an early act of experimentation that sparked his lifelong exploration of expression, resistance, and ritual. A pioneer of the “Modern Primitives” movement, Musafar redefined body modification as a radical form of self-determination. Practices like piercing, branding, corseting, and suspension became powerful expressions of authenticity and defiance, influencing generations of queer BDSM and performance art communities.

Directed by longtime friend and Festival favorite Angelo Madsen (North by Current, Frameline45), the film weaves together archival material, audio recordings of Musafar himself, and reflections from figures like Annie Sprinkle, Ron Athey, Midori, and Cléo Dubois. A Body to Live In refuses to flinch, confronting issues such as cultural appropriation and the impact of the AIDS crisis without offering easy resolutions. The result is a raw examination of Musafar’s work — its contradictions, beauty, and enduring relevance. This isn’t a traditional biography. It’s an investigation into how the body can serve as both a canvas for transformation and a powerful declaration of autonomy.