Female Trouble (1974) Review

Title: Female Trouble
Year: 1974
Director: John Waters
Country: US
Language: English 

"I worry that you'll work in an office, have children, celebrate wedding anniversaries. The world of the heterosexual is a sick and boring life." - Aunt Ida (Female Trouble).

While watching John Waters' Female Trouble (1974) I confronted an uneasy truth about myself; I do not belong in heteronormative spaces. I've longed for acceptance in conventional settings, but always found myself ostracized. Queer communities however, have been quite embracing & have allowed me the most freedom to be my authentic self. Most of my adolescent friends turned out to be LGBT. Infact, a queer person suggested that I watch Female Trouble. The film, oddly enough, gave me comfort. Aunt Ida is right - heteronormativity is a sick and boring life!

In this film, notorious Baltimore criminal and underground figure Dawn Davenport (Divine) goes up against a sleazy married couple who make a passionate attempt to humiliate her and seize her tabloid-given title as "The Filthiest Person Alive"

"Who wants to be famous!? Who wants to die for art!"

Many people consider Female Trouble to be John Waters' greatest work. I have no desire to see Pink Flamingos, so I'm keen to agree! This film an anarchic celebration of underground queer culture, where misfits like Divine fill up every frame. It's a joyful assault on your sensibility. It's tasteless, yet charming and funny. There were many moments where I laughed at how outrageous it was. "How can you not love dying if you're going to be famous for it?"

Female Trouble is a film I intend to revisit because there is a tremendous amount of substance that I am aware that I'm overlooking due to how surreal viewing it for the first time is. The characters' excitement for violence and death in pursuit of celebrity, “You’re looking at crime personified,” is a very understated social commentary disguised as satire. Female Trouble has a well structured narrative that makes some interesting technical choices despite having the setback of a $25,000 budget.

I was very surprised that I ended up strongly enjoying Female Trouble. The first 30 minutes had me doubting its effectiveness, but by the time Divine is dancing in the street I was hooked. I am certainly going to get the Criterion Edition for repeat viewings.