Filmed in New York City in the latter part of the 1980's, PARIS IS BURNING gives a small, but fascinating look into the NYC "ball culture". Balls are (from what the film told me) a mix of dance, posing, performance, modeling, etc. where participants (mainly African-American and Latin American members of the LGBTQ community) get up in front the audience and strut their stuff like a motherfucker!!! I mean work that shit! It's dope. I wish I knew how to move like that. It'd be awesome! Strutting around, pointing at the cat, voguing all up in her smug face. "Mmmm-hummmm!!! What are you gonna do about it?!"
Anyway, PARIS IS BURNING focuses solely on one certain group location in NYC. We're shown the events of a ball, explained the different categories, terminology and introduced to some of the main players who all have bad ass names like Pepper LaBeija, Danni Xtravaganza, Octavia St. Laurent and Willi Ninja. There's so much going on, you really can't even take it all in in just one viewing. I had to watch it twice and it was great both times.
One of the sadder things I noticed (besides the racism, homophobia, cruel parents and murder) was how a lot of the people being interviewed wanted to be somebody else. Like a person they saw on television (Dynasty, which ran from 1981 until 1989, is mentioned a few times) or somebody that is wealthy. It was sad. I wish more people, not just the people in this film, but people in general, could be happier with being themselves. Realize that it doesn't take money or material possessions to give you value. You, yes, you reading this, if you possess virtues like honesty, empathy, integrity, civility, modesty...then you have value. Fuck sports cars, fuck big TV's, fuck boats, fuck motorcycles, fuck a powerful job...honesty, compassion, acceptance. That is where it is at.
Try to leave the world a better place than how you found it. And, if you find somebody to love (and they love you back), love them every single day like it is your last, because one day it will be.
Wow. I got way off subject. Long story, short: PARIS IS BURNING is a great documentary. Quick pace, uplifting story, delightful people, unique subject matter, GHOSTBUSTERS on TV. The entire thing was like a really cool time capsule. Highly recommended.
If you need me, I'll be in my room sad voguing to $uicideBoy$.
