Movie Review – The Adventures of Priscilla, the Queen of the Desert

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) – Two drag queens and a transsexual travel to the center of Australia for the chance to perform.  Along the way they learn a lot about themselves and the people around them.

This is regarded as a pivotal moment in the portrayal of LGBT people in the movies.  While characters of this kind appeared in the movies before they were smaller roles and often not particularly sympathetic.  When the drag queens Tic (Hugo Weaving) and Felicia (Guy Pearce) join transsexual Bernadette (Terrance Stamp) in Priscilla, their tour bus, for a trip to Alice Springs the world was suddenly confronted with a very different look at gay and transsexual characters.  That’s not to say they are portrayed without personal flaws.  Each of them is struggling with something and has to find a way forward with and/or despite those struggles.

In many ways it is Stamp’s Bernadette that holds center stage.  Stamp brings great dignity to Bernadette who still hasn’t completely left her biological gender behind (which turns out to be a good thing for Felicia at one point).  It is clear how much she longs to finally complete that journey.  There is an enormous sadness in the portrayal that grows more poignant as the movie progresses.  Pearce’s Felicia lives at the very edge of control.  When that control slips we are provided with a pivotal moment in the story.  Weaving as Tic seems to be the “grounded” member of the trio but we discover his anguish in stages as they progress across the desert.  These are truly tour de force performances by all three actors.

Many viewers will find themselves uncomfortable when they first begin watching the movie.  The drag world of our three heroines is flamboyant, energetic, on edge and more than a little bit bitchy.  When you focus on them as people the movie will take you away.  It’s a world that is unknown to many people but the lives shaped by fear, disappointment, anger, confusion and the search for love should be familiar to us all.

Interesting historical note – this movie came out in 1994, “To Wong Foo, With Love Julie Newmar” came out in 1995 and the Robin Williams/Nathan Lane version of the “The Birdcage” came out in 1996.  Each movie made more money than its predecessor with “Birdcage” zooming well past the 100 million dollar milepost worldwide.

Sit back, relax and be prepare to be charmed.

Rating – **** Recommended