‘Queendom’ Review: Fabulous Doc Spotlights the Beauty and Cost of Queer Artistry in Putin’s Russia
Manuel Betancourt Drag is not — or at least need not be — political, let alone radical in its politics. But when such artistry is targeted by politicians and policies that aim to make it disappear from public view altogether (whether in the name of country or church or children or any combination thereof), drag artists are left with little recourse than to make their own bodies and bodies of work stand for something.
In Agniia Galdanova’s fabulous, if sobering, documentary “Queendom,” audiences are called to witness the begrudging radicalization of Jenna Marvin.
The young queer nonbinary drag artist would rather be designing and showcasing her work with little worry. Yet at every turn, the increasingly violent anti-LGBT policies of Putin’s Russia push her to find some way out and through.
A lithe young Russian with no hair on her head and no eyebrows to speak of has painted her entire head pearl white. She’s also painted on a few clown-like black and white flourishes on her face (teardrop outlines around the eyes, bold black lines around the contour of the mouth).
