Russian drag queens' story lively but skin-deep
Deborah Young
Mon Feb 15, 2010 1:44am EST
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61E0NO20100215BERLIN (Hollywood Reporter) - Advertised as the first Russian film about drag queens, writer/director Felix Mikhailov's "Jolly Fellows" vaunts the brash, in-your-face liveliness of a debut film on a naughty topic. Despite some engaging perfs by a game cast, this curiosity item lacks the emotional connections and in-depth character exploration that could have taken it beyond gay and lesbian fests into the memorable territory of a "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert." It has received limited release in Russia and the Ukraine and, after its Berlin Film Festival screening, can hope to do a little more in a few Euro niches.
Travesty, explains an opening line, is an actor performing a role of the opposite sex, and on this respectful note the film takes us backstage at a Moscow drag show with a number of gaudily made up actors in sequined costumes.
