Year: 1990
Director; Jennie Livingston
Country: US
Language: English
"My father always said you've got three strikes and you're an outcast in America. Well dad, I've got three. I'm black, I'm male and I'm gay." Jennie Livingston's Paris is Burning (1990) proves to be a unique queer documentary that combines the harsh reality of being an outcast with the thrill of gay pagentry. Even if you're cis you'll find something to love about this captivating picture about a community you may rarely encounter.
Paris is Burning is a chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.
Rotating between footage of a grand gay ball and interviews with members of the ball community, Livingston creates a meaningful picture that demonstrates the longings, desires and moods of people who are often shut out from society. We hear about the social injustice experienced by the community by the outside, but also feel the warmth of those who feel celebrated by other lgbtt members.
Its sad to see 14 year old teenagers talking about being kicked out of their home for being gay, but its nice to see that these people have their own "mothers", which are often drag-queens, that help them get back on their feet. These underground New York families feel quite liberating when compared to the oppression of the mainstream world. Livingstone's documentary, made during a very homophobic era, is effective in helping us question our own prejudice & encouraging us to be more accepting.
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