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Review

It's good to be king. And the Venus Boyz' subjects surely feel the same way – after all, they're drag kings! In this vibrant documentary, Swiss-born director Gabrielle Baur visits the courts of drag kings – women who take on male alter-egos – and other dwellers within the "universe of female masculinity." Baur's first stop is New York's legendary Club Casanova, where "the Young Wild Ones began writing drag king history." We meet drag king daddy Mo B. Dick; the hot Dred Gerestant, a sexy black ladies' man; serious-minded poet/singer/performer Storme Webber; Diane Torr, who embodies several characters – including middle-class macho man Danny King – and teaches workshops for women on transforming into men; Berlin drag king Bridge Markland, who literally changes from female to male onstage; and accomplished actor Shelley Mars, aka "Grand Daddy of Drag Kings."

Baur also high-tails it to London, where we hang with those who take gender flux a step further – such as photographer Del La Grace Volcano and filmmaker Hans Schierl - experimenting with hormones to become "new men" and "cyborgs." Although chock full of campy, subversive performances (and many additional drag king cameos), the film also delves deep into what it means for these women to go guy, either just for a night or an entire lifetime. (French, German with English subtitles)

Lawrence Ferber