The Legend of Leigh Bowery (2002)

The life of '80's fashion designer/queer icon Leigh Bowery is explored in this documentary.

Director:

Charles Atlas

Stars:

Leigh Bowery

Cast

Credited cast:
Leigh Bowery

Storyline

This documentary explores the life and times of artist/designer/performer/provocateur Leigh Bowery. He designed costumes and performed with the enfante terrible of British dance Michael Clark, designed one of a kind outrageous costumes and creations for himself, ran one of the most outrageous clubs of 1980s London club scene Taboo (later immortalized in Boy George's Broadway musical, and was the muse of the great British painter Lucian Freud. The film includes interviews with Damien Hirst, Bella Freud, Cerith Wyn Evans, Boy George, and his widow Nicola Bowery. The sound score is by Richard Torrey, who performed with Bowery in their band Minty.

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Plot Keywords:

fashion | performance artist | gay interest | performance art

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

USA France

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Lenda de Leigh Bowery

Filming Locations:

Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$6,038 (USA) (28 November 2003)

Gross:

$10,445 (USA) (5 December 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arte, Atlas Films, One Canvas Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Fashion as performance art

Leigh Bowery was a London Club Kid of Australian origins who made a nightclub's night simply by entering the club. His outrageous costumes were always over the top and once you've seen one of his looks you'll never forget him.

The movie has a lot of performance footage of him at clubs as well as interviews with Boy George as well as many who knew him more closely. (including his Salvation Army parents)

This film not only gives you an idea of the man but also invokes an era that was unique and will not come again.