FrankSimon’skeenlyobserved1968documentaryisabehind-the-scenesviewofadrag-queencontestattheTownHall,inmidtownManhattan.ThemoviestartswithaportraitoftheMC,Jack,whosedragnameisSabrina.Simondetailstheemergence,bywayofmakeupandcostuming,ofJack’s–andthecontestants’–superbartistry.Intheirhotelrooms,theshow’sparticipantsdiscussthepracticalitiesofgayandtranslifeatthetime:theirrelationshipswiththeirpartnersandwithparentsandneighbors,theoptionofsex-affirmingsurgery.Despiteitsflashandglitz,thepageantcomesoffasdifficult,exactingwork;forallthecamaraderieofthedragqueens,thecompetitionisfierceandserious.Simonrevealsracialtensionsamongthecontestantsaswellastheeternalconflictbetweenlife-worntroupersandtalentedyoungnewcomers.Whetherpushingthecameraclosetotheperformersorzoominginfromafar,Simonintimatelycapturesthelavishlifeoftheatricalimaginationthatinspiresthem,andpresentsthepublicperformanceofgenderasanurgentactofliberation.(源自:TIDF2024)
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