A chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.A chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.A chronicle of New York's drag scene in the 1980s, focusing on balls, voguing and the ambitions and dreams of those who gave the era its warmth and vitality.
- Awards
- 17 wins & 1 nomination
- Self
- (as Carmen and Brooke)
- Self
- (as Andre Christian)
- Self
- (as Paris Dupree)
- Self
- (as Octavia Saint Laurent)
- Self
- (as Angie Xtravaganza)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaConsidered to be the first example of the now-common expression "throwing shade."
- Quotes
Dorian Corey: I always had hopes of being a big star. But as you get older, you aim a little lower. Everybody wants to make an impression, some mark upon the world. Then you think, you've made a mark on the world if you just get through it, and a few people remember your name. Then you've left a mark. You don't have to bend the whole world. I think it's better to just enjoy it. Pay your dues, and just enjoy it. If you shoot an arrow and it goes real high, hooray for you.
- SoundtracksIs It All Over My Face!
Performed by Loose Joints
The miracle of "Paris is Burning" is that director Jennie Livingston takes a subject that could have very easily become a freak show and allows the people in it their humanity. We learn their views of homosexuality, men, women, their hopes, their disappointments, their dreams. Some of these dreams are so unattainable it's tragic. Many of the people are seriously in denial;
This is not a film for everyone. There are shots in this movie of nude transsexuals. If you have a problem with homosexuality, then this movie isn't for you. But if you do see this movie you'll realise "Paris is Burning" isn't really about men wearing women's clothes, it's about a group of people who are routinely marginalised and put down by society at large, and what they do to get a sense of community in their lives.
I've watched this movie four times since it was released in 1991, because it says so many things: it's a commentary about materialism in our culture, about gender roles, about rich and poor people, about the media and what it celebrates, about fame and adulation. "Paris is Burning" is one of the most humane, and one of the saddest, movies I've ever seen.
- chantil955
- Mar 19, 2000
- Permalink
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- The Children Are
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $3,905,297
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $310,127
- Aug 11, 1991
- Gross worldwide
- $3,905,297
- Runtime1 hour 18 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1