Venus Boyz (Documentary)
Picture: C+
Sound: B- Extras: C Main Program: C+
If gay males are having problems with oppression
and are known as much as they are these days, it must be much harder for a
female lesbian, as their culture is far less visible. Venus
Boyz (2001) surprises with the little-heard world of “drag kings” as these
women decide that they can have some kind of empowerment if they dress like
men. This is done as much on stage as it
is in public.
It is one of the few aspects of gay life that the
mainstream has not trivialized yet, especially since the mainstream seems to be
able to deal with weak men (through marginalization in part) than empowerment
of women (gay or straight) in any way.
Though it is mostly about empowerment as battle against low self-esteem
and against isolation, it actually seems to work for these women who feel left
out by society and because of sexual orientation. Though it may seem limited or unusual, it is
a kind of triumph for them that is not really hurting anyone, and though this
would find a limited audience to begin with, it seems to have prevented a few
suicides.
The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is from
the original video shooting that was converted to 35mm for theatrical
release. This looks best when we see the
variety of colors from nightclubs and more commercial streets, but has the
usual video black, red, and whiter limits.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has some Pro Logic surround information, though
the much of this dialogue based. It was
issued theatrically in Dolby SR and the fidelity when the sound kicks in sounds
like it. The extras include trailers for
this and other First Run Features, a few stills, and two documentary shorts: Venus Boyz Around The World and an
interview with Gabriel Baur.
It should be said that this is a work that is R in
nature, outside of anything that may be shocking about the situation. Whether one likes it or not depends, but it
was very repetitious after a point, hitting a wall in telling its audience
anything deeper about the world it shows that that it existed. Fans and those of said sexual orientation are
the only persons I could imagine finding value in repeat viewings. As for the subject matter, it is a start and
seems to have happened as the Gay New Wave ended.
- Nicholas
Sheffo
