A glimpse into the lives of New York drag queens.

Concept: C
Story: F
Characters: B
Dialog: B
Pacing: C
Cinematography: F
Special effects/design: D
Acting: n/a
Music: B

Enjoyment: C minus

GPA: 1.8/4 ( )

This is a documentary of 'drag nights' among New York's underclass. Queens are interviewed and observed preparing for and competing in many 'balls'.

Director:
Jennie Livingston
Stars:
Carmen and Brooke, André Christian and Dorian Corey

Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City’s African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, Paris Is Burning offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion “houses,” from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women—including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza—Paris Is Burning brings it, celebrating the joy of movement, the force of eloquence, and the draw of community. (source: The Criterion Collection)