USA, 85 mins
In the late sixties and early seventies, John Waters began his film career making shocking films that many found distasteful and extremely disturbing. Many of them featured Divine, a larger-than-life drag queen who became a household name through her acting and singing career. At least, I say she, but that was one thing this documentary was not clear on. Many of the people interviewed referred to Divine as ‘she’, however many others used ‘he’.
Divine was a character played by Harris Glenn Milstead who grew up in Baltimore bullied as much for his size as his sexuality. Once he discovered Divine, however, he was set to become a star. I Am Divine showed the side of Divine I knew and loved – the singer of disco hits such as “You Think You’re a Man” and the mother in Hairspray – but also the gentle, quiet, ambitious side that few but his closest friends saw.
I Am Divine screens at Greater Union on Friday, July 26 at 11:30pm and at Greater Union on Thursday August 8 at 9pm.
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