Venus Boyz

Starring:Diane Torr, DrÃ©d Gerestant, Del La Grace Volcano, Queen Bee Luscious, Mistress Formika, Shelly Mars, Svar Simpson, Dee Finley, Bridge Markland, Storme Webber, Philly Abe, A. Hans Scheirl, Martina Meijer Torr, Judith Halberstam, Simo Maronati, Mo Fischer, Marcel Meijer
Director: Gabrielle Baur
Studio: First Run Features
Product Type: DVD

Description

Venus Boyz takes viewers on an extraordinary journey into the universe of female masculinity. Filmed in New York City and London, theis eye-opening documentary uses the performances of drag kings - women who perform on stage with an invented male persona - as a starting point from which we follow their different paths.

Customer Reviews:

It depends on what you're looking for -- this could be it........2005-09-15

The reviewer Jeffrey is a man and says that the camera moved jerkily, the movie was too slow, and some things are not explained. I am a butch woman and I loved the movie. I identified with the characters and was incredibly inspired by the characters, their performances, their ability. If genderqueer things are your things, if you are a butch woman who wants to see some butch women positively represented (for once) on the screen, then this movie is for you! You may be inspired to dream, expand your goals, and feel more confident about your potential (and the potential of other genderqueers) to achieve those goals. If you don't want to watch a movie on these issues tonight, rent something else.

drag king documentary.......2004-09-06

Not only is the drag king movement thriving, but it's being documented in various media. This documentary shows Judith Halberstam, author of "Female Masculinity" and Del Grace Volcano, photographer of "The Drag King Book." Here several drag king performers and butch women are interviewed. This film makes no division between kings, transsexuals, or butches.

Consistently, those interviewed say they want to blend genders or do away with the concept: they don't just want to experience "the other side." Many perform with drag queens or do avant-garde work with gay men. One transsexual referred to her body parts by both male and female terms.

There are a ton of foreign drag kings in this work. Does that mean Europe is a more accepting place or more condemning and thus kings have to fight harder over there? Does that mean American women don't have much to say about the movement? Does that mean the movement is really global? None of this gets answered.

This film moves slow. The camera has many jerky movements and the view is often blurred. Many may think of this documentary as a female version of "Paris Is Burning." However, PIB was funnier and moved faster. This just plodded along. I'm guessing the makers here lacked the funds and time that Jenny Livingstone had.

The title is never explained. They show some kings doing an excellent imitation of the Backstreet Boys, yet they only show it for a second. In the academic Drag King anthology, it is stressed that the movement isn't in just big cities like New York or London. However, in this documentary, only the big city shows and performers are brought up.

I'm happy that someone made this work. It just wasn't that great.

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