Pride's a Drag!

ABOUT THE SERIES:

At the American Cinematheque, pride is a year-round practice. But that doesn’t mean we won’t shine a light on the harmful actions and agendas targeting the LGBTQ+ community this June. As anti-drag legislation and violence escalate all around the country, join us in celebrating drag artistry and performance with a slate of films dedicated to those fictional and real individuals who dare to express themselves.

Drag can mean many different things to many different people, from female impersonation and “adult cabaret performance” to the gender (non-)conforming actions we all take in our daily lives as we present ourselves to the world. This month’s series begins with Richard Benner’s 1977 cult classic OUTRAGEOUS!, starring Craig Russell as the hilarious Robin Turner, an up-and-coming performer with a dream of superstardom. Next is the 4K restoration of Toshio Matsumoto’s groundbreaking FUNERAL PARADE OF ROSES (1969), a hallmark of the post-war taiyozoku movement following trans diva-about-town Eddie through the bustling nightlife of Tokyo. In SYLVIA SCARLETT (1935), Katherine Hepburn dons a man’s costume to escape persecution, becoming entangled in a gender-confused love affair initially shunned by Classical Hollywood audiences. Our series closes with the ultimate exploration of queer performance and celebration, Barry Shils’ 1995 documentary WIGSTOCK: THE MOVIE.