original_query: What is the significance of New York City Inferno in the context of homosexuality in France during the time it was released?
query: What is the significance of New York City Inferno in the context of homosexuality in France during the 1970s?
answer: In 1978 France, homosexuality was still a crime.  Critic Lachaud described the film as a "radical work of art" due to its unvarnished portrayal of gay life and experimental style, significant given the legal and social climate.