Review of Paris Is Burning (1991) by Ladd W — 05 Nov 2007

I was recommended this documentary by a friend of mine, and enjoyed it immensely! A look in the subculture of the gay community/drag queen "balls" in late-80s New York City. Strangely, but hardly suprising, Paris is Burning seems to have lost none of its relevancy, despite some of characters featured in the film including Dorian Corey and Pepper Labiejya have passed on.

The gay community has now become a part of mainstream culture, and AIDS is still an ever-present danger and a persistent epidemic. Still, there's a certain splendor and magic watching these images almost two decades later.

Whether its watching Corey as she dispenses a hard-earned wisdom while putting on her face, marvelling at the glamorous Octavia, or Willi Ninja "voguing," you can't help but feel that there's a certain sad beauty to the whole pageantry of the balls, knowing that these men were living at the crest of the AIDS epidemic in a city that offered almost limitless freedom and glorious self-expression despite being targetted by the other half of society, harsh, ignorant, and unforgiving.

In short, this is a fantastic documentary, which blazes with a remarkable life force brought to the screen by ladies who became so much more than men, but unique statements of fashion, style, and personality in a city ravaged by AIDS, but infected with a hope that never seems to fail the women of the balls.