Paris Is Burning
4.3
(2.4K)
Documentary
1991
78 min
R
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, PARIS IS BURNING 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. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza.
Starring:
Pepper LaBeija
,
Octavia St. Laurent
,
Venus Xtravaganza
,
Dorian Corey
,
Willi Ninja
,
Paris Dupree
,
Freddie Pendavis
Documentary
Lgbtq+
AD
Community ReviewsSee all
"It's been ages since I saw this but I saw it with some dear friends originally. Some of them are no longer with us. Seeing this listing was a reminder of those good times. "
TheGingerGirl455
"This is essential watching if you are a Rupaul drag race fan like me then this is the starting block and background to go off of. This is an experience you wish you could of been part of but it also had it significant tragedies as well "
Amy Santi
"a must-watch. a perfect unraveling of the black & brown LGBTQ+ ballroom culture"
darren
"I cannot even express how much I love this documentary-"
Aesthetically Pleasing
"Pride Day 19: At today, the convergence of Pride month and Juneteenth, I wanted to showcase something drenched in black LGBTQ+ culture and I've been meaning to watch this for some time so that all kind of worked out. I feel I should define here that Juneteenth is a day commemorating the emancipation of slaves in the US. Pride month is a month in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots of the 60s. This documentary is about gay culture in New York in the late 80s. Specifically that centering around the Ball which is a large scale competition on looks, fashion, gender presentation etc. While a lot of this documentary is relatively light hearted and focused on various aspects of gay black culture and the vibrant personalities of many of the high profile attendance of the Ball it doesn't shy away from the tough reality of living as a black gay man, lesbian, or trans women at the time, especially in a particularly shocking revelation near the end. It's interesting, engaging, pretty short and last time I checked it was free on YouTube so its probably worth checking out if it sounds like something you'd be interested in."
Forrest Fujio-Gates
"One of my all-time faves!"
J H
Judi A. Hilman
"One of the best documentaries I've ever seen . Life changing for me"
Aundria Vanderveur
"I watched this documentary as part of a rhetoric of different class that I took freshman year in college. The only thing that bothered me was the years of the F slur. I also found out that one of the drag queen’s (I don’t remember who) was hiding some… Disgusting bodily material in her apartment. I think she kept that guy for at least a year."
Sapphire Gunnarson
"Have you watched this movie before?"
Jon Wayne
"Beautiful documentary. A sort of time capsule of the roots of popular dance and popular phenomena like RPDR. A film everyone (queer or not) should see."
Darius Stubbs
