Priscilla: The Queen of Queer Characters

Priscilla: The Queen of Queer Characters 

By Jackson DiCarlo

I was extraordinarily pleased with The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. I was a bit worried going in that the film would be very one note and gimmicky. How exciting does a bunch of drag queens on a bus in Australia sound to me? Not. Not exciting to me. But Mama Mia was I wrong. The film gradually pulled me in with it's outstanding characters and conflict. They were each so nuanced and interesting, and I found it difficult to pick a favorite. I found myself respecting the hell out of Bernadette, empathizing with Tick, and really laughing at Adam. Bob was great too, what a wholesome guy. Not only are these characters well written, but the obstacles they overcome are just as interesting. I totally felt my heart sink when the trio saw their graffitied bus, I was scared for Adam in Coober Pedy, and I was just as nervous as Tick was when I realized he was about to meet his son. Really, an all around excellent film. I'm definitely gonna recommend it to anyone who'd be interested. What a ride.

With the practically out of character glowing review out of the way, it's time to discuss the deeper queer text of the film, namely, with how it deals with gender roles. The movie did a great job creating these characters in a way that represents different spheres of queerness. The reading for this week, "An Examination of Gender Roles in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," thoroughly lays out each character's development and behavior. It's difficult to find more to say about their roles, aside from my own personal opinions from my observations. I found all of the queer characters to be someone to appreciate and respect in some way. Tick is unsure about who they are and their identity, and are constantly shifting from strong to spineless in the face of adversity. Hugo Weaving's performance is so charming and personable, garnering a great amount of empathy. Something I hadn't personally considered is the possibility of someone being a drag queen yet still being unsure about their sexuality. Drag to me always seemed like such an out there, prideful practice, and to witness this character dealing with the deep complexities of being in a straight marriage and having a kid is something else. Adam is a rascal and a scallywag but he owns it. This overt antagonism is the result of insecurity, but is so amusing to watch. He can't help himself from pushing people's buttons, anyone from his friends to people who could harm him. However, I think Bernadette is the character that I like the most. A transsexual woman who just kicks ass in every way. Doesn't take shit from anyone and has clearly been fighting throughout her life. I was really stricken by just how cool and collected she always was. She had some of the best lines of the whole movie. She displays the perfect balance of traditional femininity and sheer force of will. She's just a pillar of determination and strength, and it's great to have her on screen.

This is easily my favorite movie I've seen in this class so far. Lost Boys last week was pretty fun, but this movie had so much heart, charm, and soul to overlook. A great combo of quality queer characters and a compelling story. It's certainly a film I'll remember for years to come.

- Jackson DiCarlo

- Follow Up Post - 

This film came completely out of left field and shook up me and this class in a way I did not expect. I for one found myself exceedingly pleased with the movie, in fact, I've been talking about it with several people since I've seen it. I really thought it was a witty, thoughtful, and heartfelt depiction of queer characters in one of the most well written movies I've seen in a while. I loved the characters, the plot, the music, everything. However, I noticed a commonality of distaste in several of the other blog posts, ranging from uninterested tolerance to deep dislike. It's not the fact that people dislike the movie that I think is interesting, but the total role reversal at play. Normally, I write a sarcastic review of a movie that I didn't think too fondly of and read pieces of glowing praise in confusion, yet this time I found myself on the other side of that fence. A lot of the criticisms of the movie I've seen come down to taste and opinion, similar to my more negative reviews of the past. There are also reviews that discuss disgust with the homophobia and transphobia the film displays, which is very valid. I suppose I was able to look past those elements and view them purely in context of the movie because of my lack of personal connection, but I could absolutely see how people weren't a fan of those elements. But again, the roles are reversed. I, the cynical critic, have joined the light side. It's ironic this happens regarding a film that sparked a discussion of role changing of another kind. This role switching scenario is far less impactful and meaningful as those presented in the movie, but it's interesting nonetheless.