Paris Is Burning ( The Children Are ) ( To Be Real )

Paris Is Burning (DVD) (*)

Out of Stock

Original Title: The Children Are
Alternate Title: To Be Real
Screened, competed or awarded at:
Berlin International Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
Australia ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
73 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1990 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Jennie Livingston

Written By:
Jennie Livingston

Actors:
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

Synopsis:

Poignant, well-received documentary that reveals the community of New York's minority drag queens, gay black and Latino men who cross dress as women and invent the dance style of 'voguing,' imitating the fashion poses on the covers of the magazine Vogue. As director Jennie Livingston discovers, her subjects band together into family-like 'houses' for protection, taking the same last names and competing in drag balls where awards are given out for authenticity or 'realness,' as well as other categories like 'evening wear' and 'executive wear.' Both an embracing and a refutation of the world of high fashion, the balls become the social locus of this underclass, underground society of outcasts defiantly refusing to be ignored by a world that scorns them. Paris Is Burning (1991) was one of several critically acclaimed documentaries of the late 1980s and early 1990s excluded from Academy Award nominations, eventually leading to a reappraisal of the Academy's stodgy selection process.

An unblinking behind the scenes story of fashion obsessed New Yorkers who created 'voguing' and drag balls, and turned these raucous celebrations into a powerful expression pf personal pride. The world within a world is instantly familiar, filled with ambitions, desires and yearnings that reflect America itself. PARIS IS BURNING is an intimate portrait of one urban community, a world in which the allure of high fashion, status and wealth becomes an affirmation of love, acceptance and joy.

New York 1987. In a nightclub in Harlem young gay black men get ready for the competitive dance called 'Vogueing', which combines the acrobatic character of break-dancing with moves based on fashion models' poses. The contestants are all members of 'Houses', small gay gangs. The members, known as 'children' compete for the glory of their 'House'. Shown as part of the Young Forum section of the 1991 Berlin Film Festival.

This product was added to our catalog on Friday 23 December, 2011.

Customers who bought this product also purchased

Chelsea Girls (DVD)