Red Ribbons (1994/Water Bearer DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: C Feature: C+
Quentin
Crisp is a Gay icon for his groundbreaking work and the fact that he was a
survivor of so many thinks for so long and Neil Ira Needleman’s Red Ribbons (1994) is his final
feature-length screen appearance while Georgia Spelvin makes her return! The story is about a theater that is faced
with closure when its #1 supporter passes away.
Of
course, there is more to this including several storylines about relationships,
but it is done as a comedy and that undermines some potential here. Sure, it is supposed to be queer, but the
approach is not always one that is going to work because it becomes too one
note here with eventually nowhere to go.
At best, it is a time capsule of a changing community as the Gay New
Wave was kicking in. Gay viewers may
take it even more personally.
The 1.33
X 1 image originated on analog videotape and nine years later, shows its age in
softness and other video flaws, though editing is not that bad. Compositions can be awkward, though. The Dolby Digital 2.0 is on the monophonic
side, but is not horrible, but you will have to turn it up and be careful when switching
audio sources. Extras include three
related shorts by the same players: Aunt
Fannie, Renovation and The Divine Ms. Q.
- Nicholas Sheffo
