MovieChat Forums > Paris Is Burning Discussion > A sad film

A sad film

posted 17 years ago by Babo2
8 replies | jump to latest

I saw this film 17 years ago and having screened it again last night, it inspires the same melancholy. Certainly, it was a great documentary and a brilliant debut for the director, Jennie Livingston, but when I watch this film, I see little cause for celebration.

It’s a fun ride in a glam/camp sort of way, but behind the make up and glitter are a lot of talented, energetic young people who could be doing so much more than living on the margins of society. Glamming it up on the underground is fine as far as it goes; we all need diversions and who is to say that one person’s choice of entertainment is more worthy than anothers, but where exactly does one go when the ball is over? I don’t want to draw any hasty conclusions; maybe these performers are all well adjusted individuals and living relatively normal lives with careers and goals many viewers would identify with. But if that were the case, why wasn’t any of that even glimpsed on screen? What we DO see is a collection of runaways dreaming of things that will never be realized. Indeed, the film calls to mind the poem by Langston Hughes “A Dream Deferred.”

I see a lot of deferred dreams in PIB.

I salute the energy and ambition of the men in this film, but Livingston’s narrative seems to be a terrible indictment of racism in America, of homophobia (particularly in black families), and of an educational system that allows so many young people to effectively end up on the street with little to no future orientation.

Whenever this film comes up in conversation (in person or in on-line forums) people often suggest a follow up project documenting where these people are now, but the suggestion is always truncated with the realization that many (most? all?) are gone due to AIDS, drugs, or other unfortunate circumstances . . . The apparent muder of Venus by strangulation is tragic in and of itself (was the murderer ever found, tried, and convicted?) but even more so when one stops to consider that it may well represent the tip of an iceberg.

In some ways PIB was a landmark film. Which begs the question of what happened to Jennie Livingston? Why the fifteen year hiatus between PIB and her next project? Was she busy raising a family? Raising money? Inquiring minds want to know. After this film, she should have had ready backers for her next project or producers ready to hire her. After watching PIB, I feel cheated that such a talented director didn’t give us more over the years.

[–] Akembe 17 years ago

Very thought provoking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[–] dcscribe8860 12 years ago

Well-said. You expressed everything I felt, watching it again after so many years just recently. There is a bittersweetness about how some of what the participants in this film - specifically Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija and Dorian Corey - was eventually achieved, when many artists on the fringe at the time as well achieved stardom finally by co-opting what their supporters, the "children", were doing at the time, (for example - Madonna with "Vogue" and Cheryl Lynn with "Got To Be Real.")

It IS sad to think of how much more many of these creative and talented individuals could have achieved had they been given just a chance, but there is some satisfaction in knowing that they were the trailblazers for what gay culture has achieved in the mainstream and in 'crossing over'. How many co-workers have you had whom you could talk to about QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY, QUEER AS FOLK, RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE and NOAH'S ARC, both gay and straight? The origins of these and so many other gay-friendly and GLBT-oriented shows and films and other media, can be traced back directly to PIB.

[–] Redux006 10 years ago

A follow up would be interesting, but like you said, most of the people involved in the original are dead. Pretty much every single one of them I looked up to see where they are now is deceased.

I think a follow up would be very poignant. The way to handle it would be to talk to the few who are still alive, and to talk to those who knew the ones who are dead. Find out what they did with their lives after the documentary, how they died, and how they are currently remembered by those who knew them.

[–] bobcanduit 10 years ago

Well said. And despite the current times and a perceived change of tide, I don't think that things have changed much at all. The singular improvement is that people no longer have to die horrendous deaths via AIDS anymore. So that part is really good. Unrealized lives largely due to social and cultural difference is still the norm. Racism, homophobia, hate and fear continue to prevail, most especially in the U.S. I wanted to see that change in my lifetime. May have to settle for a black, and probably female president. We take what we can get.

[–] Babo2 10 years ago

bobcanduit:

I think you are being unfair. Things most certainly have changed. For many people (in the USA) hiv/aids has been reconfigured as a chronic illness. In the 1980s, when this film was made, there were few openly gay characters on television. Today a program is not considered hip or trendy if it doesn’t have a gay or lesbian character. Not only have we seen Queer as Folk, Noah’s Arc, RuPaul’s Drag Race, etc. today we have openly gay teachers, actors, politicians, and children of politicians. The visibility of these figures and the possibilities that it signals for young people (gay and straight) is monumental! Bullying and tormenting gay children used to be business as usual. Today, in many--and growing--school districts or colleges that will not be tolerated. In the 1980s very few people were talking about gay marriage. Right now, it is the law in 17 states at the District of Columbia with more clearly on the way. Conditions are changing, minds are changing, our country is changing and that is all to the good. No, the journey is not over, but to say “that things have [not] changed much at all” I think is cynical and disingenuous. The sun does not rise in an instant from the middle of the night... it gradually comes over the horizon and continues its ascension. That is what is happening here.

As is often the case, the pioneers who open the door for the rest of us do live to walk through those same doors, but we do them a disservice to say that little has changed since they did the heavy lifting. Talk to anyone who was alive in the 1960’s. For everyone in that generation to see an African American president and a King memorial on the National Mall is indeed monumental.

[–] Falconeer 10 years ago

I see how this movie can be depressing. But these people seemed to be amazingly well-adjusted, and very comfortable with their sexuality. That is something that would make most young gay people from that time, extremely envious. In a way, these guys/girls were the lucky ones, because they got to live their dreams and be with people who were like them. What is really sad is gays who grew up in the mid west, or in any small, rural town, where they had to hide their identity or be ridiculed. The people in this movie appear to be having a great time, in an amazing city. Be happy for them that they had this experience. I'm sure a few of them died young, or violently; but remember, quality of life is not measured by how long you live, but rather HOW you lived, and what you got to experience in the short time you had on this Earth. And also remember, that each one of these guys did in fact realize their dream, just by appearing in this film. They are immortalized in a great movie, and because of that they will never be forgotten. at any given time, somebody, somewhere is watching this movie and is being inspired by these people. always try to look at the positive side of things.

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

[–] djmaraio 9 years ago

I just watched this movie tonight. I found it very sad to see these people struggle to have their families accept them for their lifestyles that they chose. The only families they had were themselves. I just sensed that they were depressed from within and had difficulty dealing with it. This movie was filmed between 86 and I think 88/89 when society was so different to the LGBT community. The LGBT community has come along way in finding acceptance from society but still has a bias against them and still needs to come along. I was fascinated too with the styles back then in the 80's when I was a teen going into my 20's growing up in NYC.

[–] TheArgentinian (6429) 4 years ago

I think it's one of the most uplifting, inspiring documentaries I've seen, even if what happened when the cameras stopped rolling is sad, if you dwell on that.