A random collection of films authored by or about my transgender, intersex sisters, and gender-nonconforming persons all over the world. I watched some of them, and I was inspired by some of them. I met some of the authors and heroines, some of them are my best friends, and I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing some of them. If you know of any transgender documentary that I have not covered yet, please let me know.

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Wigstock: The Movie

Director: Barry Shils
Release Year: 1995

Synopsis:
In 1995, director Barry Shils captured the vibrant, flamboyant world of New York City's annual drag festival in Wigstock: The Movie. The documentary, which provides an insider's look at the 1994 edition of the Wigstock festival, not only showcases the electrifying performances that made the event legendary but also explores the deeper cultural significance of drag and gender expression. As a historical document of an iconic moment in queer culture, Wigstock: The Movie remains a fascinating and essential viewing experience for anyone interested in the intersection of art, identity, and performance.
 
Wigstock, which began in 1984 as an impromptu drag gathering in the East Village of Manhattan, quickly grew into one of the most celebrated drag festivals in the world. For a decade, it served as both a riotous celebration of queer culture and a vibrant platform for drag artists to showcase their talents. The festival's name, a playful fusion of "wig" (a key drag accessory) and " Woodstock" (the legendary 1969 music festival), encapsulated its ethos of flamboyance, creativity, and freedom of expression. By the time of the 1994 festival, Wigstock had become a cornerstone of the New York City drag scene, attracting a broad and diverse crowd from across the city and beyond. The event was known for its performances, which blended music, fashion, and irreverence with political subtext, all while maintaining an unapologetically transgressive spirit. Wigstock: The Movie captures this energy, offering a snapshot of a moment in time when drag and queer performance were gaining mainstream visibility but still operated on the fringes of popular culture.
 
At the heart of Wigstock: The Movie is its celebration of drag performance, featuring a lineup of both established and emerging artists from the 1994 festival. Notable performances include those by Crystal Waters, Deee-Lite, Jackie Beat, Debbie Harry, Leigh Bowery, and Joey Arias, among others. These artists, each with their own distinct style, brought a mix of music, comedy, lip-syncing, and live performance that defined the festival. One of the most significant moments in the film is the performance by RuPaul, who was at the height of his mainstream fame in the mid-'90s. By 1994, RuPaul had achieved international recognition with his hit single “Supermodel (You Better Work)” and his appearances on talk shows like The Arsenio Hall Show. His presence in Wigstock: The Movie serves as a reminder of how far drag had come in terms of visibility and acceptance. RuPaul’s larger-than-life persona and effortless glamour made him a household name, yet his performance at Wigstock also showcased his roots in the drag community and the ongoing cultural relevance of the event. Other standouts in the film include the legendary Lypsinka, whose lip-sync performances were widely recognized as masterpieces of drag artistry.
 
The film shows behind-the-scenes footage of Lypsinka preparing for her performances, giving the audience a rare look at the intricate work that goes into these stunning displays of theatricality. The Wigstock Dancers, a troupe that supported many of the festival’s performers, also have their moments in the film, as their choreographed routines highlight the blending of drag, dance, and performance art that made Wigstock so unique. One of the film's most memorable sequences is a comedic moment featuring Wigstock's MC, Lady Bunny. In a phone conversation with a city official, Lady Bunny inquires about the possibility of placing a large wig on the Statue of Liberty as part of the festival's promotional efforts. This quirky exchange highlights Lady Bunny's irreverence and playful approach to performance, encapsulating the festival's anarchic, fun-loving spirit.
 
While the performances are central to the documentary, Wigstock: The Movie also provides insight into the logistical and emotional work that goes into creating an event of this magnitude. The film delves into the rehearsal process of several key performers, showcasing the behind-the-scenes efforts required to bring the outrageous costumes, elaborate choreography, and precise lip-syncing to life. This glimpse behind the curtain gives the audience a sense of the labor and artistry involved in drag performance, which often goes unnoticed by mainstream audiences. The documentary also interviews the crew responsible for assembling the stage, setting up sound equipment, and managing the festival. These backstage moments reveal the collaborative effort needed to make Wigstock a reality, and the interviews with attendees underscore the festival’s significance as a cultural gathering point. For many, Wigstock was a rare opportunity to experience the unapologetic freedom of drag in a public space, free from the constraints of mainstream society’s expectations.
 
At its core, Wigstock: The Movie is about more than just entertainment; it is a document of the transformative power of drag and the subversion of traditional gender roles. In the interviews with performers, drag queens, and attendees, the film examines how drag art allows individuals to express alternate, often exaggerated, versions of their identities. For many, drag represents a form of liberation, allowing them to escape societal limitations and embrace an alternative gender performance that is playful, critical, and political. The documentary also touches on the relationship between drag and the LGBTQ+ community’s ongoing struggle for visibility and acceptance. The 1990s were a crucial time for queer representation in mainstream media, and Wigstock: The Movie highlights the role that drag performance played in advancing this visibility. As queer culture was moving from the margins into the mainstream, the festival became a site where self-expression could be celebrated without shame, offering a space to reclaim gender and sexuality from heteronormative frameworks. One of the key takeaways from the film is the importance of drag as an art form that challenges societal conventions. Drag queens, gender nonconformists, and trans individuals in the documentary discuss how performing in drag allows them to explore different facets of their identities, break free from oppressive societal expectations, and create new narratives around gender. The festival’s playful tone and fierce performances underscore the political power of such transgressive expressions.
 
Wigstock: The Movie received a generally positive reception, with a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on reviews from 13 critics. While some critics, such as Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, expressed reservations about the film's surface-level portrayal of drag culture, the documentary was largely celebrated for its vibrant depiction of the Wigstock festival and its celebration of queer artistry. Ebert, who gave the film a 2 out of 4 rating, commented that the film “puts a safe, public face on people who surely cannot be as conventional as they appear here.” While this critique points to a certain sanitized quality of the film, it also underscores the tensions that exist between the world of drag and mainstream acceptance. Despite such critiques, Wigstock: The Movie remains a valuable document of queer culture in the 1990s, offering a lively and colorful celebration of drag performance while simultaneously exploring the deeper social and cultural implications of gender expression. The film holds a special place in the legacy of the festival, capturing a time when drag was on the cusp of becoming a cultural force with mainstream appeal.
 
Wigstock: The Movie is more than just a concert film or a documentary about a festival; it is an exploration of the subversive power of drag as both an art form and a political statement. Through its performances, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and interviews with drag icons, the film offers a unique insight into the world of drag at the height of its cultural impact. It’s a film that celebrates the transformative potential of performance, the rejection of conventional gender roles, and the importance of creative expression within the LGBTQ+ community. For those who were there, or those who wish they had been, Wigstock: The Movie is an invaluable snapshot of a moment when drag was not only an art form but a revolution in its own right.
Image credits: YouTube
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