Paris Is Burning

Name: Paris Is Burning
Genre: Documentary
Duration: 1 h 11 min
Rating: 8.2
Cast: Brooke Xtravaganza, André Christian, Dorian Corey

19901990
RR
1h 11min

A chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.A chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.A chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.

8.2/10

14K

Director
- Jennie Livingston
Stars

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 16 wins & 1 nomination

Videos3

Trailer 1:40

Official Trailer

Clip 3:40

Janelle Monáe, Laverne Cox, and More Share Their Must-Watch Picks for Pride

Full Episode 3:47

What to Stream for Black History Month

Octavia St. Laurent in Paris Is Burning (1990)

Pepper LaBeija in Paris Is Burning (1990)

Dorian Corey, Junior LaBeija, Pepper LaBeija, Willi Ninja, Freddie Pendavis, Octavia St. Laurent, and Anji Xtravaganza in Paris Is Burning (1990)

Venus Xtravaganza in Paris Is Burning (1990)

A documentary of New York's LGBT's scene in the 80's, showing the real life of poor Black and Latin LGBT people, introduce the ballrooms, the categories, the houses, the voguing and the dreams and ambitions of these people who are systematically excluded from society, they fight to conquer the right to be and to reinvent themselves in a world starring by straights and white people. They use the balls to show their creativity, have fun with their community and family, shining and have their names recognized in the ballroom scene. —sin_dios_ni_amos

drag ball 1980s subculture new york city drag queen 63 more

Taglines
- Having a ball...wish you were here
Genre
- Documentary
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- Rated R for language and sexuality
Parents guide

Trivia
A young Pepper LaBeija can be seen very briefly as a contestant in the 1968 documentary The Queen, about a drag beauty pageant held in New York City. The legendary Crystal LaBeija, original mother and founder of the House of LaBeija, is also featured giving a fierce and shady reading.

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.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Doc Hollywood/Return to the Blue Lagoon/Hot Shots!/Paris Is Burning/Another You (1991)

Soundtracks
Is It All Over My Face!
Performed by Loose Joints

Top review

Really well made. Interesting. Sad, too.

I will confess that I had no idea what I was walking into when I saw it. At the time, I was between jobs and seeing every movie I could. It was either that-or look for a job!

Remember seeing the title and thinking it was about WW2, Hitler, etc. Of course, once the movie started, I was surprised.

It was a very cool movie. I don't think it matters if you're straight, gay, or somewhere in between. It opened my eyes to a whole new sub-culture I never knew existed. What I saw was a group of men very passionate about something in their lives. Fascinating to watch them transform their appearance.

Sad to see how their families didn't accept them or when there was a death of one of the principals. I remember they showed one of the actors truly depressed b/c his family (maybe his father) tossed all of the clothes he had collected. Outside of the monetary value, he really had pride in all that he had amassed over the years.

I left thinking I wouldn't want to try it, but I thought it would be very fun to attend one of these balls.

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