37/25
In defiance of Russia’s anti-LGTBQ laws, a 21-year-old queer artist risks her life to perform in surreal costumes throughout Moscow. Jenna Marvin’s radical public performances combine artistry with activism in this SXSW documentary. I’m sure many will comment on the value of Agnia Galdanova’s remarkable documentary about Russian queer drag performer Jenna/Gena Marvin (born Gennady Chebotaryev), especially in light of the persecution of members of the LGBTQ+ community in Putin’s Russia. It’s impossible not to be impressed by the audacity of some of Gena’s protests, videos, and exploits, which is a credit to her, but also to the extensive networks of people involved, many of whom fear for their personal safety. But for me, it’s also worth highlighting the cinematography of “Queendom.” The film’s production details are so sparse that it looks like it was shot almost entirely on a phone, by Galdanova or her cameraman Ruslan Fedotov, which is extraordinary, a work of art in itself. You can, in principle, make a great film on a phone. But don’t let that get you down. Some people point the camera at something and take a picture, but filmmakers like to look behind what they’re looking at and see what’s really going on. In the right hands, the image conveys a deeper meaning. The Russians, of course, know all about this art form, thanks to their famous film industry. Often it’s just a matter of simple technique, like holding a shot a little longer to give the viewer a chance to absorb the scene more fully. For example, a somber, long shot taken in Gena’s hometown of Magadan, a transshipment port far to the east of Russia, is used as the backdrop for a strange shopping “mini” drama that ends with a history lesson about how the city was used as a transit center for political prisoners during the Stalinist era. In Moscow, where Gena is studying, a long walk downtown to Red Square in full costume shows the reactions of the people she passes by, including military personnel in the subway, etc. Great conversational parts in “Queendom” fill the basic plot and create the film’s narrative, and Gena’s many video posts of wonderful underground characters are skillfully woven into the overall structure. You really are witnessing art, you could be in an art gallery. Her expulsion from college in Moscow for participating in an anti-Putin protest dressed in a provocative costume with the colors of the Russian Federation is combined with incredible footage of improvised drama. There are also surreal moments, like a ride on a fairground dressed in shiny brown foil, followed by several swings behind Galdanova, truly inspired. Too many things to list. Watch them and you will see! Credit to the artist, but credit to the filmmaker as much… both are significant and noteworthy. I am sure that Queendom has been edited very skillfully to tell the story the filmmakers wanted to tell. As one reviewer has pointed out, it may not have been completed due to changing circumstances. To me, that does not make it any less important or beautiful to watch, I hope it gets noticed and wins many awards. Gena now lives in France, I hope she can earn money from her art. The film is currently available in the UK on BBC iPlayer as part of the international documentary series Storyville.