Summaries

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 documentary of New York's LGBT scene in the 1980s, showing the real life of poor Black and Latin LGBT people, introduce the ballrooms, the categories, the houses, the voguing, and the dreams and ambitions of these people who are systematically excluded from society, they fight to conquer the right to be and to reinvent themselves in a world starring straight and white people. They use the balls to show their creativity, have fun with their community and family, shining, and having their names recognized in the ballroom scene.—sin_dios_ni_amos

This is a documentary of 'drag nights' among New York's underclass. Queens are interviewed and observed preparing for and competing in many 'balls'. The people, the clothes, and the whole environment are outlandish.—Robbie Smith <[email protected]>

An unblinking behind-the-scenes story of fashion-obsessed New Yorkers who created "voguing" and drag balls, and turned these raucous celebrations into a powerful expression pf personal pride. The world-within-a-world is instantly familiar, filled with ambitions, desires, and yearnings that reflect America itself. PARIS IS BURNING is an intimate portrait of one urban community, a world in which the allure of high fashion, status, and wealth becomes an affirmation of love, acceptance, and joy.—Dream LLC

Details

Keywords
  • 1980s
  • new york city
  • lgbt
  • homosexuality
  • drag ball
Genres
  • Documentary
Release date Jul 31, 1991
Motion Picture Rating (MPA) R
Countries of origin United States United Kingdom
Official sites Official Facebook
Language English
Filming locations New York City, New York, USA
Production companies BBC Television Art Matters Inc. Edelman Family Fund

Box office

Budget $500000
Gross US & Canada $3905297
Opening weekend US & Canada $310127
Gross worldwide $3906006

Tech specs

Runtime 1h 18m
Color Color
Aspect ratio 1.33 : 1

Synopsis

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