Who says sex stops at a certain age? Certainly not the women in Rama Rau’s riotous romp through the life and times of the pioneering women of burlesque.
Date/Time: May 13 2016, 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Vancouver, VIFF's Vancity TheatreCost: $11.00
Find tickets: here
Every one of the women featured in The League of Exotique Dancers has a story, and what stories they are! From Kitten Natividad, who inspired Russ Meyer’s boob empire, to Holiday O’Hara, who shed her thick glasses and frizzy hair and became an alpha female of sex to Judith Stein (The Grand Beaver of Canadian Burlesque) who found a new identity onstage and went on to lead a life of wild adventure.
The film kicks off in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the new inductees into the Burlesque Hall of Fame. Smart, ferociously independent, and insanely funny, these ladies pull no punches in detailing the nature of the business. Despite the glitter and the glamour, the early days of burlesque were no joke. Performers not only had to endure public censure, but sexual violence was also a common occurrence. Judith Stein remembers a performance at a frat house party that got ugly and dangerous very quickly. Although she escaped unharmed, she brought charges against the men who threatened to rape her; they were sentenced to three years of women’s study classes. Stein’s story is not unusual, but it’s also indicative of the survival instincts and rapier sharp wit of the women at the heart of burlesque.
Increased competition from pole dancers and clubs that called for more nudity and less artfulness put a strain on the industry. But even in its period of decline, the performers maintained their spirit and creativity. The League of Exotique Dancers sounds like it could give the Justice League a run for its money, or at least a little bump and grind action. But make no mistake, these legendary women are every bit superheroes, although they fought their way to fame and fortune in little more than heels, a feather boa, and a big old sassy grin.
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