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, it 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.
MPAA rating: R; for language and sexuality.|||adult
produced and directed by Jennie Livingston ; a production of Off White Productions, Inc.
Title and credits from screen.
Originally released as a motion picture in 1990.
2K digital restoration supervised by director Jennie Livingston.
Special features on disc one: commentary soundtrack from 2005, featuring Jennie Livingston, ball community members Freddie Pendavis and Willi Ninja, and film editor Jonathan Oppenheim ; never-before-seen outtakes. On disc two: new conversation between Jennie Livingston, ball community members Sol Pendavis and Freddie Pendavis, and filmmaker Thomas Allen Harris ; episodes of The Joan River show from 1991, featuring Livingston and ball community members Dorian Corey, Pepper LaBeija, Freddie Pendavis, and Ninja; Giselle Xtravaganza, a Latinx trans woman talks about the significance of Paris is burning; trailers; in booklet, an essay by filmmaker Michelle Parkerson and a 1991 review by poet Essex Hemphill.
Featuring Dorian Corey, Pepper Labeija, Venus Xtravaganza, Octavia Saint Laurent, Willi Ninja, Kim Pendavis, Freddie Pendavis, Andre Christian, Paris Dupree.
DVD, NTSC; region 1, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, Dolby monaural audio.
Closed-captioned.
Cinematographer, Paul Gibson ; editor, Jonathan Oppenheim ; co-producer, Barry Swimar ; executive producers, Nigel Finch, Davis Lacy.
