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Paris is Burning 

Year: 1990
Country: USA
Director: Jennie Livingston
Starring: Dorian Corey, Pepper LaBeija, Willi Ninja, Freddie Pendavis, Kim Pendavis, Octavia St. Laurent, Junior LaBeija, Venus Xtravaganza, Anji Xtravaganza
Synopsis: This documentary examines the Harlem drag balls and the people involved in the start of voguing, which existed long before Madonna became a star.
Quick review: Documenataries like this one are a treasure to recording slices of gay history. During most of the 1980s voguing became the thing to do at the Harlem drag clubs. It involved each house having their own contests where awards were handed out. Drag performers, and others, would strut their stuff, showing off as much attitude as they could for the judges. And then they would start voguing, a type of dance. Madonna later took it mainstream, but it was the queer boys who originated it. The film's strength is allowing the audience to get inside the lives of these performers. It's not always easy. There's one aging drag queen who's seen it all, but still putting on the fake boobs and wigs every weekend. There's another performer that will meet with a brutal end by the time the film's credits roll. But mostly, we get that drag queen attitude. And plenty of it. Pepper Labeija has ruled over this community for years and is the film's strongest voice. We can see the poverty these ladies live in during the day, and how they save what money they do have just to have the most fabulous outfits at night. And since these grand balls are nothing today like they were back then, this film keeps alive a segment of gay history that might have otherwise been forgotten in 100 years. How else would we know what shade and read meant?
 

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