"Avant-Drag!" (2024) is a bold, powerful documentary that delves into the lives of ten drag performers in Athens, offering a raw and unfiltered portrayal of their struggles, triumphs, and their radical challenge to societal norms. In the face of political oppression, social conservatism, and a mainstream media that has commodified drag culture, these performers take to the streets of Athens not just to entertain but to make a defiant stand. Their performances become acts of rebellion, asserting a new vision for identity, gender, and self-expression.
In the age of late capitalism, few cultural movements have been as absorbed, repackaged, and commercialized as drag. What was once a subversive and transgressive art form has increasingly become a mainstream spectacle. Shows like "RuPaul’s Drag Race" have catapulted drag performers into the limelight, offering a sanitized, entertaining version of drag that caters to mass consumption. This mainstream drag is, in many ways, a pale shadow of its radical roots. While it plays a crucial role in normalizing gender fluidity, it also loses its edge - the edge that once critiqued the very societal structures it is now marketed to. "Avant-Drag!" seeks to reclaim the essence of drag as a tool of resistance. It focuses on a more underground, raw, and political form of drag, positioning it not as entertainment but as a form of protest against the patriarchy, nationalism, conservatism, and the oppressive norms of society. These artists are not simply performing for an audience; they are enacting their revolution through their art. Whether they are taking on personas like riot housewives or Albanian turbo-folk girls, the performers of "Avant-Drag!" turn the act of drag into something deeply subversive and charged with social commentary. The film’s narrators explain this impulse as “a demand to change the world that comes from the past, looking straight into the future.”
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In this gripping documentary, Ieropoulos captures the essence of Athens as a city that is both a refuge and a battleground. Athens is a city where drag artists find their sanctuary, yet also a place where they face the harsh realities of police brutality, transphobia, racism, and social exclusion. "Avant-Drag!" is a celebration of these brave artists who push back against the forces that seek to silence them. The film also addresses gentrification, which is eroding public spaces and further marginalizing communities already under threat. The drag performers' use of public space as an act of protest speaks to the power of visibility - an act of rebellion against the norms that seek to control them. The documentary moves beyond the superficial glitter of mainstream drag, focusing on the radical performances that challenge dominant ideologies. It’s not just a “pride” documentary filled with talking heads, but a visceral exploration of the intersection of art, politics, and identity. The film’s unique blend of magical realism, political commentary, and extravagant performances offers an avant-garde cinematic experience, influenced by the Greek “Weird Wave” cinema movement.
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One of the most compelling aspects of "Avant-Drag!" is its intersectional approach to social issues. Through the voices of the diverse drag performers, the documentary highlights the compounded struggles faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Greece. Misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, and the aftermath of austerity all shape their lives in profound ways. The film touches on the troubling rise of police violence against LGBTQ+ individuals in Greece, exemplified by the murders of drag performer and activist Zak Kostopoulos (Zackie Oh) and Anna Ivankova. Ieropoulos dedicates the film to Zackie, a close friend and collaborator of the creative team, honoring his memory and acknowledging the personal loss that has driven the film’s passion. The documentary challenges the romanticized view of Athens as a queer utopia. While the city offers a degree of artistic freedom, it is also a place where queerness is still viewed with suspicion and hostility. This dynamic is key to understanding the motivations of the drag performers, who embrace their alter egos not only as a form of self-expression but also as a necessary shield in a world that often demands conformity. As one of the film’s subjects states, “We multiply in a diagonal fashion, through constant mutations – we are the virus of perversity.” Their art becomes an act of liberation, a rejection of societal constraints and a declaration of autonomy.
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Structured in a series of vignettes, "Avant-Drag!" introduces the audience to a variety of drag performers, each with their unique personalities, backgrounds, and motivations. We never see them without their drag personas; their costumes, makeup, and wigs are their armor, allowing them to navigate a world that might otherwise reject them. Their alter egos are both a mask and a form of empowerment, giving them the freedom to express their truest selves. This duality - of hiding to reveal, of performing to live authentically - is a central theme in the film. As one subject explains, drag allows them to step into a new form, where they can explore different facets of their identity and challenge the expectations placed upon them. The film’s structure emphasizes the diversity of these performers. They come from different walks of life and represent a wide range of gender expressions and sexualities. Yet, they share a common thread: the desire to make visible what is often invisible and to challenge the entrenched power structures that seek to silence marginalized voices. This sense of solidarity among the performers is palpable, creating a deep sense of community amidst the shared struggle for recognition and freedom.
At its core, "Avant-Drag!" is a love letter to Athens, a city that has both embraced and rejected its queer community. Ieropoulos expertly captures the contrast between the city’s ancient beauty and the modern struggles that unfold within it. The streets of Athens become a stage where drag artists transform public space into a site of protest, visibility, and defiance. The film’s portrayal of Athens is as multifaceted as its subjects, capturing both the oppression and the creative spirit that define the city’s queer culture. The film is not just an exploration of drag as an art form; it is also a poignant commentary on the resilience of queer people in the face of adversity. It serves as both a celebration of drag and a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggles for LGBTQ+ rights. Through its intimate portrayal of Athens' underground drag scene, "Avant-Drag!" presents a nuanced and multifaceted view of queer identity and culture in contemporary Greece.
"Avant-Drag!" is a film that defies easy categorization. It is both a documentary about the drag scene in Athens and a deep dive into the social and political struggles that shape the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals in Greece. It is a film that challenges the mainstream, offering a more radical, political, and emotionally resonant view of drag than the sanitized portrayals often seen in popular media. At its heart, "Avant-Drag!" is a celebration of queerness, a tribute to the transformative power of drag, and a call to action to never forget where the art form came from and the revolution it continues to inspire. Through its vibrant portrayal of the artists who live on the margins, it becomes a powerful testament to the resilience and creativity of the queer community, showing that despite being Othered, there is power in reclaiming space and identity.
Image credits: YouTube
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