2013,
Bambi,
France,
French,
Marie-Pierre Pruvot,
Monika Kowalska,
Director: Sébastien Lifshitz
Release Year: 2013
Synopsis:
Released in 2013, Bambi is a French documentary directed by Sébastien Lifshitz that chronicles the extraordinary life of Marie-Pierre Pruvot, a trailblazing transgender woman who performed for over 20 years in Paris's famous cabaret, Le Carrousel. Known by her stage name, Bambi, Pruvot's career in the world of trans showgirls during the 1950s and 1960s made her an iconic figure, both for her performances and as a symbol of transgender visibility in an era when such stories were rarely told.
Beyond her stage career, Bambi also sheds light on Pruvot's transition from a celebrated entertainer to a respected educator and author.
In a world where transgender lives are often obscured by stereotypes or misrepresentation, Bambi serves as an intimate portrait of a woman who defied the norms of her time to forge a path that was both groundbreaking and personal. Through candid interviews and archival footage, Lifshitz gives viewers a poignant look into Pruvot's journey, her reflections on gender identity, and her transition from a performer to a high school teacher. The documentary not only explores Pruvot's professional trajectory but also touches upon broader themes of transgender identity, societal acceptance, and the struggle for self-realization.
Marie-Pierre Pruvot was born in Algiers on November 11, 1935, and moved to Paris at the age of 18, seeking a life of freedom and self-expression. In the early 1950s, she began performing in Parisian cabarets, eventually joining the famous Le Carrousel de Paris, where she worked alongside other trans women in a show that was both a spectacle and a statement of defiance. The cabaret was known for its troupe of transgender performers, a rarity in the entertainment world at the time. Pruvot’s stage name, "Bambi," quickly became associated with grace, beauty, and the allure of trans showgirl culture.
During this period, Paris was one of the few places in the world where trans women could publicly express themselves in such settings. Figures like Coccinelle, another legendary performer, became pioneers of the transgender movement, not just in France, but internationally. However, as Pruvot herself reflects in the documentary, the performance scene was not without its challenges. Being trans in the 1950s and 1960s meant navigating a complicated mix of fame, acceptance, and prejudice. While her work as Bambi garnered her admiration and success, it was also a world defined by social stigmas and the limitations of gender norms.
One of the most striking elements of Bambi is the way it portrays Pruvot’s transition, both personally and professionally. After a 20-year career in the entertainment world, Pruvot made the decision to leave the stage at the age of 38. She transitioned into a completely different life, one that was not defined by glamorous costumes or late-night performances. Instead, she chose to pursue a career in education, becoming a high school literature teacher. This transition was not just a change in career but an evolution of her identity, one that allowed her to explore her passion for writing and literature while also embracing the stability and respectability that her new role afforded her.
As Pruvot reflects
in an interview for the blog Heroines of My Life, transitioning to teaching was not an abrupt departure from her past. “I didn’t quit the Carousel,” she recalls. “I stayed there as the revue head for 20 years. Finally, when I was 38 years old, I bade farewell to the show and I became a French literature teacher because that is my passion and because being trans in a show was no longer a novelty in France." This statement speaks to her deep love for education and the transformation of her own identity, which was no longer tied to a public spectacle but to the quiet influence of teaching and writing.
Her work as an educator, spanning over two decades, earned her recognition and respect. She was even inducted into the Ordre des Palmes Académiques, a French honor given to educators who have made significant contributions to the field of education.
In addition to her work as an educator, Pruvot was also a writer, authoring two autobiographies. The first, Marie Parce Que C'est Joli (2007), was a personal account of her journey from childhood in Algeria to her years as Bambi on the stage. The second, J'inventais Ma Vie (2003), is a more expansive work of fiction, combining autobiography with fictional elements to offer a narrative that blends reality and imagination.
Sébastien Lifshitz’s documentary is largely drawn from these autobiographies, particularly the first, and serves as a way for Pruvot to reflect on her past and share her story with the world. Bambi is not only a recounting of her professional achievements but also a testament to the importance of self-expression and the power of self-determination in a world that often seeks to suppress those who do not conform to societal expectations.
One of the most significant aspects of the Bambi documentary is its exploration of the social climate for transgender people in France during the mid-20th century. At a time when few transgender individuals were publicly visible, Pruvot and her peers in the world of cabaret helped pave the way for greater visibility and acceptance. As she recalls in her interview, "We had heard of Lili Elbe and knew about Christine Jorgensen in the USA, Roberta Cowel in the UK, and Michel Marie Poulain in France. But we didn’t consider them as convincing examples. We remained as a show of transvestites in the meantime. Little by little, the trans performers began to outnumber the transvestites."
For many trans women of Pruvot's generation, living openly as their true selves was a radical act. Yet, as she transitioned from the world of performance to education, she was able to find fulfillment in a completely different sphere of society, one that provided stability and intellectual engagement.
This is part of the documentary's broader message—that the journey of a transgender person is not limited to one narrative. Pruvot’s story is one of personal growth, resilience, and the search for a place in a world that often marginalizes those who don’t fit within the traditional frameworks of gender.
In the interview for Monika Kowalska's Heroines of My Life, Pruvot reflects on how her own journey speaks to transgender people today:
“The purpose of life is not to be trans but to understand your strengths and your weaknesses and develop your talents as much as possible. If you need to do certain things to transition, you’ve got to do them. It is not a goal in life. It is a condition that allows life to start and the human being to flourish.”
Sébastien Lifshitz's Bambi is a deeply moving and visually striking documentary that offers a rare and intimate portrait of a transgender woman's life. Marie-Pierre Pruvot, with her intelligence, grace, and resilience, exemplifies how the transgender community has contributed to art, culture, and society in ways that are often overlooked. Her story is not just one of survival, but of thriving and creating new possibilities in a world that was not always kind to those who were different. Through Bambi, Lifshitz gives us the opportunity to witness a life lived fully, with courage and conviction, and reminds us that the true value of life lies in the pursuit of self-actualization, no matter the obstacles we may face.
As Pruvot’s story continues to inspire new generations, Bambi remains an important cultural touchstone for the transgender community and for those seeking to understand the complexity and beauty of gender identity.
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