I Am Divine – The Most Outrageous Drag Queen That Ever Lived
Before RuPaul, there was Divine.
She wasn’t much of a singer, but she certainly was a larger than life diva. From LA to NY, EVERYONE knew who Divine was!
Behind the famous drag queen persona was a man many of us know little about. Divine was born Harris Glenn Milstead in Baltimore, Maryland. In the late 70’s and early 80’s DIVINE became known as the most outrageous drag queen on Earth!
This new documentary is a MUST SEE – no matter if you remember her – or are a millennial, you need to be educated!
I Am Divine is the widely acclaimed new documentary from prolific filmmaker Jeffrey Schwarz (whose other gay documentary film portraits include Jack Wrangler, Vito Russo and an upcoming Tab Hunter project). I Am Divine brings to life the spectacular personality and amazing career of Divine through colorful interviews and archival footage from classics like Female Trouble, Polyester, Hairspray and Pink Flamingos (yes, including the dog-poop-eating scene!).
I Am Divine shows Glenn from his humble beginnings as an overweight, teased Baltimore youth to internationally recognized drag superstar through his collaboration with filmmaker John Waters.
Spitting in the face of the status quos of body image, gender identity, sexuality, and preconceived notions of beauty, Divine was the ultimate outsider turned underground royalty. With a completely committed in-your-face style, he blurred the line between performer and personality, and revolutionized pop culture. I Am Divine is a definitive biographical portrait that charts the legendary icon’s emotional complexities and rise to infamy.
It is so sad, Glenn/Divine was really reaching mass popularity and stardom, right at the time he died. He passed away in L.A. of an enlarged heart at the age of 42, just three weeks after the hit 1988 film Hairspray, costarring Ricki Lake and Sonny Bono hit theaters. It truly proved Divine as rounded actor – but sadly, that was the end of the road. Gone too soon.
The critics say-
“Divine gets her own well-deserved spotlight.” — Peter Debruge, Variety
“An enjoyably naughty trip through Divine’s career.” — John Defore, The Hollywood Reporter
“Captures the exuberant spirit of a time in which difference brought together like minds and changed attitudes.” — Mark James, Film School Rejects
“Just as garish, splashy, and loud as Divine himself.” — Drew Taylor, indieWire’s The Playlist
“A breathtaking and touching portrait of two people inside the same body.” — Joshua Brunstig, CriterionCast
WINNER:
Special Award – Overall Achievement – Long Island Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
Spirit Award Winner – Documentary – Cinetopia International Film Festival
Audience Award – Best Documentary – FilmOut San Diego
Lifetime Achievement Award for Divine – FilmOut San Diego
Best Documentary Film – Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival
Audience Award Winner – Best Documentary – Outtakes New Zealand
Audience Award – Best Feature Film – Out East Queer Film Festival
Audience Award – Cinema Q Denver
Festival Favorite – Cinema Diverse, Palm Springs
Best Documentary Feature – Arizona Underground Film Festival
Audience Award – Favorite Documentary – Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
Best LGBT Film – Key West Film Festival
Audience Award: Best Documentary – Madrid International LGBT Film Festival
STREAM IT or BUY IT TODAY! It’s a fantastic chance to relive the days of Divine!