Having a ball… Wish you were here
Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City's African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, PARIS IS BURNING offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion "houses," from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza.
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Character
Earnest, classical in form, prestige and character-led.
- earnestironic
- classical in formformally daring
- unpretentiousprestige
- character-ledplot-driven
- gravecomic
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“Is it fair to its subject?”
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“Is Paris Is Burning prestige bait?”
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“Would Paris Is Burning hit harder if it came out today rather than in 1991?”
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Cast
- Pepper LaBeijaSelf
- Octavia St. LaurentSelf
- Venus XtravaganzaSelf
- Dorian CoreySelf
- Willi NinjaSelf
- Paris DupreeSelf
- Freddie PendavisSelf
- Sol Williams PendavisSelf
- Junior LaBeijaSelf
- Angie XtravaganzaSelf
Crew
- Jennie LivingstonDirector
- Paul GibsonDirector of Photography
- Jonathan OppenheimEditor
- Jennie LivingstonProducer
- Barry SwimarProducer
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