TONGUES UNTIED / PARIS IS BURNING
A film review by Sarah M. Elkins
Copyright 1991 Sarah M. Elkins
I have seen "Tongues Untied" twice so far, once in a local (Rochester NY) theater which shows foreign/independent/classic movies, and once on our local public television station. It is a film about black gay male life, told in a poetic narrative style from the point of view of people living the life. I thought it was a moving film, funny and intriguing in some places, sad and beautiful in others, and potentially (not to me, but I can acknowledge the potential) in-your-face offensive in a few places. I thought the part with the snap divas was a howler (loved that "sling snap"), and was fascinated to watch the voguers dancing. The format was a little hard to follow the first time, but I still enjoyed the film, and it's even better the second time.
I did not like PARIS IS BURNING as much, though parts of it were absorbing as well. It is a documentary about mostly black gay male life in Harlem at the drag balls, featuring sequences of drag balls and interviews with voguers and "house" matriarchs. "Tongues Untied" reached more of my heart. Perhaps that is because "Tongues Untied" is told from several insiders' positions, as opposed to the "observer/interview" mode of PARIS IS BURNING. However, both of these films have valuable insights. As a white, heterosexual woman, I can attest that these aren"t just "specialized audience" movies. The mixed audiences seemed to agree with me, judging from their reactions.
-Sarah elkins.wbst139@xerox.com .
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