Paris Is Burning (1990)

Director:

Jennie Livingston

Release Date:

August 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

Having a ball...wish you were here

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Ball | Transvestism | House | Shoplifting | Vogue Magazine

Awards:

12 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Carmen and Brooke
André Christian
Dorian Corey
Paris Duprée
David The Father Xtravaganza
Junior Labeija
Pepper LaBeija
Sandy Ninja
Willi Ninja
Avis Pendavis
Freddie Pendavis
Kim Pendavis
Sol Pendavis
Stevie Saint Laurent
Octavia St. Laurent
Anji Xtravaganza		(as Angie Xtravaganza)
Bianca Xtravaganza
Danny Xtravaganza
David Xtravaganza
David Ian Xtravaganza
Venus Xtravaganza

Also Known As:

The Children Are (USA) (working title)
To Be Real (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

71 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | USA:R

Company:

Miramax Films

Quotes:

Dorian Corey: 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.

Movie Connections:

References Paris brûle-t-il? (1966)

Soundtrack:

Got To Be Real

It's Ball Time in NYC

An excellent documentry. I personally remember this growing up in NYC in the early 80's. This movie is for anyone that wasn't around during that time period.This shows the one thing the African American Gay Underclass felt was solely theirs and the love and camadrie you see is real. The people are real and sadly few are still alive as this is being written. The balls are still held but not to the extent that they were in the the nineteen eighties. That time is gone forever. This is a good pre "homo thug" movie. When Queens were really proud to be extroverts. Goodbye to Storyville this is another era gone but greatly documented all hail film!