Royally Genderfucked
Directed by Miya Norfleet-Aiken and Sarah Williams
Taking in this intimate peek into the world of St. Louis drag culture can't help but inspire viewers to consider investing in Ace bandages and prosthetic facial hair. The short documentary follows a half-dozen local dragsters, both kings and queens (men and women get equal time, which is refreshing), through their fabulous lives. Viewers get to sit in backstage as penises are tucked, breasts are taped and fake cocks and balls are stuffed into pants. Of course, there's plenty of vamping to Lady Gaga onstage, too. A particularly brilliant technique has the subjects out of drag and talking about why they perform on half a split screen while their onstage performances fill the other half. Some drag royals go for complete impersonation of the other gender, and some prefer the provocation of being not quite either. "One of the things I like about drag is it has a tendency to fuck with people," one of the kings says. Hear, hear!
Presented with two other films as a program of "Documentary Shorts: Show Business" along with live performances by St. Louis' own Lola Van Ella and drag queen Siren.
