Jennie Livingston was a photographer in edgy late-80s NY when she met a group of young black and Latino gays in Washington Square Park practicing Voguing moves and talking 'shade'. This led her into their world of Drag Balls, with 'Houses' competing against each others to win prizes in categories such as Executive Realness, Town and Country, High Fashion Realness, Butch Queen First Time In Drags, etc.
In reality they are mostly on welfare - sometimes on the Game - but by 'walking the ballroom floor' they become what the media is promoting as success, affluence and glamour, so within that community hall and to their competitors in the other Houses, they have fame - "a small fame" as Dorian Corey, a seasoned queen, says.
It features stunning footage of Voguing legend Willi Ninja, and excellent, insightful thoughts from Pepper LaBeija and Corey.
Shelf or charity shop? One to keep for the memory of the Legendary Children - all gone before their time - and one, Venus Xtravaganza, gone before the end of the film, as she is found murdered. Heartbreaking and life-affirming at the same time. Dorian Corey sums it all up in her sad farewell, "I always had hopes of being a big star. But as you get older, you aim a little lower. Everybody wants to make an impression, some mark upon the world. Then you think, you've made a mark on the world if you just get through it, and a few people remember your name. Then you've left a mark. You don't have to bend the whole world. I think it's better to just enjoy it. Pay your dues, and just enjoy it. If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high, hooray for you".
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