Movie Review The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert

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Spoiler alerts 1994 A delightful, funny sharply scripted comedy musical about drag queens on a road trip to Alice Springs in Australia. A trio of drag artists in Sidney who lip sync to classic 70’s and 80’s and 90’s pop music in cabaret shows, receive invite to play a week-long event in Alice Springs. This is organized by the ex-wife of one of the three, who does not tell his friends that he now has a young son who might be at the event and learn about what his father does for a living. Terence Stamp, the oldest of the three, is a transsexual mourning the death of his lover, and reluctant to go, though he ultimately saves the day whenever they get into trouble. The adventures are funny, and rarely threatening. When the bus (the Priscilla of the title) breaks down in the outback, the three imply use the opportunity to rehearse their show rather than feeling in any way endangered. They are rescued by a group of Aborigines having a party, and the queens put on their show to entertain them, getting one man to even drag up and join in. There are a few encounters with homophobic rednecks but mostly the singers find acceptance, assistance and even love. The film helped to get LGQBT culture recognized and accepted in the mainstream, and even recognized as cool. The costumes are incredible and the lip-syncing taken to a real art form. I was invited to consider the film for a festival of movies relating to mental health though I felt it does not really qualify as for much of the road trip the characters are in complete control and having way too much fun. It is a very infectious joy to watch throughout. Terence Stamp, Guy Pearce and especially Hugo Weaving give fantastic performances. Youtube scene from the movie Arthur Chappell