Cremaster 5

“Cremaster 5,” a 55-minute film from 1997, unfolds as a five-act opera performed in Hungarian and set against the backdrop of late 19th-century Budapest. As the concluding installment of the series, it symbolizes the point at which the testicles are liberated, marking the complete achievement of sexual differentiation. The opera’s mournful tone implies that Barney perceives this moment as one of sorrow and loss. The central figure is the Queen of Chain, portrayed by Ursula Andress. Barney himself takes on three roles that exist within the Queen’s imagination: her Diva, Magician, and Giant. The Magician serves as a representation of Harry Houdini, who was born in Budapest in 1874 and is a recurring figure throughout the Cremaster series.