Paris Is Burning (1991)

Where does voguing come from, and what, exactly, is throwing shade? This landmark documentary provides a vibrant snapshot of the 1980s through the eyes of New York City's African American and Latinx Harlem drag-ball scene. Made over seven years, PARIS IS BURNING offers an intimate portrait of rival fashion "houses," from fierce contests for trophies to house mothers offering sustenance in a world rampant with homophobia, transphobia, racism, AIDS, and poverty. Featuring legendary voguers, drag queens, and trans women — including Willi Ninja, Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Venus Xtravaganza.

Released March 13, 1991 78 min 17+

Genres: Documentary

Keywords: tmdb.transvestism, tmdb.new-york-city, tmdb.drag-queen, tmdb.homophobia, tmdb.male-homosexuality, tmdb.transsexual, imdb.subculture + 72 more, tmdb.shoplifting, tmdb.lgbt, tmdb.drag, tmdb.black-lgbt, tmdb.1980s, tmdb.voguing, tmdb.ball-culture, tmdb.woman-director, mdblist.has-trailer, mdblist.certified-fresh, mdblist.metacritic-must-see, imdb.drag-ball, imdb.national-film-registry, imdb.new-queer-cinema, imdb.new-york-city-piers, imdb.greenwich-village-manhattan-new-york-city, imdb.celebrity-culture, imdb.modelling, imdb.pursuit-of-fame, imdb.ambition, imdb.female-nudity, imdb.fur-coat, imdb.forbes-magazine, imdb.yuppie, imdb.riding-habit, imdb.makeup, imdb.sewing, imdb.city-name-in-title, tmdb.harlem-new-york-city, tmdb.subculture, imdb.1980s, imdb.new-york-city, imdb.drag-queen, imdb.transgender, imdb.consumerism, imdb.fashion, imdb.gender-roles, imdb.american-culture, imdb.gender-transition, imdb.plastic-surgery, imdb.gender-reassignment-surgery, imdb.lgbt, imdb.fashion-show, imdb.cat, imdb.african-american, imdb.homosexuality, tmdb.aids, imdb.death-of-major-character, imdb.social-documentary, imdb.gay, imdb.independent-film, imdb.homophobia, imdb.claim-in-title, imdb.vogueing, imdb.title-directed-by-female, imdb.manhattan-new-york-city, imdb.harlem-manhattan-new-york-city, imdb.vogue-magazine, imdb.shoplifting, imdb.prostitution, imdb.ghetto, imdb.gay-parade, imdb.dancing, imdb.dance, imdb.butch-femme-couple, imdb.cross-dressing, imdb.title-spoken-by-character, aspectratio.1-33-1, awards.festival-sundance-winner, imdb.chosen-family, imdb.ball-culture, awards.national-film-preservation-board-winner