The protagonists of these dreamy, visionary trance films begin their erotic quests while going through various mental and emotional states. By means of visual symbols or metaphors, elliptical narratives and different editing strategies, Markopoulos addresses the disclosure of sexual identity (Flowers of Asphalt), the rejection of the male heterosexual role (Swain) and unconsummated sexual desire (The Mysteries).

Gregory J. Markopoulos (1928-92) was one of the most original filmmakers to emerge in post-war American cinema. His films, which encompass mythic themes, portraiture and studies of landscape and architecture, are celebrated for their extraordinary creativity, the sensuous use of colour and innovations in cinematic form. By employing complex editing techniques and spontaneous in-camera superimposition, he sought to unlock the mystery and energy contained within the single frame. As a contemporary of Maya Deren, Kenneth Anger and Jonas Mekas, Markopoulos was amongst those at the forefront of a movement that liberated cinema as an artistic mode of expression. Having made his first 16mm film (Psyche) as a student in 1947, he went on to produce several key works of the New American Cinema such as Twice a Man (1963) and The Illiac Passion (1964-67).