GOODBYE HORSES: THE MANY LIVES OF Q LAZZARUS + Performance & Q&A

Goodbye Horses: The Many Lives of Q Lazzarus is an intimate journey into the life of Diane Luckey, better known as Q Lazzarus, the enigmatic singer behind the cult hit “Goodbye Horses.” Discovered by filmmaker Jonathan Demme after he stepped into the taxi she was driving in New York, Q found a moment of fame in the mid-1980s’ when he featured her music in Married to the Mob and The Silence of the Lambs. Despite her devoted following in the New York and London club scenes, she struggled to secure a record deal and eventually disappeared from public life for more than two decades, sparking many speculations about her whereabouts. Twenty-five years later, a chance encounter brought filmmaker and longtime fan Eva Aridjis Fuentes into Q’s taxi, leading to a close and trusting friendship. Through Q Lazzarus’s own words, and music, the documentary reveals the untold story behind her long disappearance, tracing a life shaped by personal struggles and an enduring desire to return to music. Moving between moments of sadness, humour, and hope, the film offers a rare portrait of an exceptionally talented yet underappreciated artist, giving voice to a woman whose story remained hidden for so long and whose music continues to resonate.

From an early age, Danny Z developed a language of his own through movement and gesture. Born in Belgrade to deaf parents, he grew up attuned to the expressive power of the body, a sensitivity that led him to become a dancer. In the 1980s, he moved to New York, where his friendship with Q Lazzarus began, sparking a deep personal and creative partnership that lasted eleven years. From roommates to artistic soulmates, they wrote, sang, and performed together on stage. Side by side, they created music with an instinctive, spontaneous, and natural energy, sharing a bond that went far beyond collaboration. Q transformed Danny Z’s poetry into songs and taught him the art of songwriting. Their musical legacy lives on in Q Lazzarus’s upcoming album The Time Is Right, due in early 2027 on the San Francisco-based label Dark Entries. The album features reworked songs written and performed by Danny Z, both on his own and in collaboration with Q Lazzarus, throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Following the documentary screening at Sputnik Kino Berlin, Danny Z, traveling especially from Manhattan, will perform some of these songs live, offering a unique opportunity to experience their shared musical legacy and to celebrate their long-lasting friendship, their creativity, and the spirit of Q Lazzarus.