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hello Anna. it's been a while. 

a lot of life has happened since I last left you a message here. I feel I have this love hate relationship with social media. I want my whole entire life to be private, but then I do something or make something and want to share it with the world. I want to have people know me and respect me but I also want people to have no knowledge of me. I go through stages of posting so much, and then like today, I've deleted my Pinterest account and made all of my YouTube videos private. 

I don't regret anything I've ever made or posted. yesterday, I actually used a recipe in a YouTube video I posted 6 years ago, and whilst I went back to watch, I then spent the next hour watching these videos I'd made and was so proud of at the time. and I still am. It's so wonderful to have this time capsule of me growing up that I can go back and watch. I see my siblings, fun times, sad times, big moments, small moments, all given their space to shine. I then wanted to be anonymous on the internet due to a job I was starting and made everything private.

later on, I wanted to return and didn't think it right to go back to that channel that I had loved and posted on whilst in high school and college. I made a new one, and like the past, I went through phases of changing and growing, meaning my content themes and appearances online heavily varied. again, I regret none of it.

it's funny. when I was in high school, I'd imagine getting big on YouTube and being able to get a PO Box and maybe having merch, and I was sad that it never happened, but if it had, I wouldn't be where I am in life now and I'm grateful for that. I'm a big believer in what will be will be, even if at times it feels like the world doesn't make sense and isn't going how I would like it to.

I guess this blog is the next stage of me growing up and having an odd relationship with what I put online. I love going back and reading my memories, it's why I started this, but what it is now is different to what it was when I started.

I've wanted to leave this message for a few months now, but I guess all good things take time.

life is currently what I've dreamed of for a while. I'm living in London with my best friend with my dream job. it's mental to think that I've wanted this and now it's actually happening. with that in mind, and my relationship with the internet, I'm putting this blog on pause, maybe even leaving my last message here. It'll still be updated with the reviews and things I post in the review tabs, but for actual uploads, I have no plans for now. I'm sure past Anna when she set up this blog in 2016 would be slightly disappointed, but I hope that she would also be over the moon that life is happening and dreams are coming true, just maybe not in the way we first thought.

as I watched back my old YouTube videos yesterday, it made me realise that everything I do is for past me. I wish I could tell her that it's all ok and I'm proud of her. I always leave a message for my future self here, but this one is for 2016 me...

right now, you are happy. so happy. you finally know who you are and understand the world in more ways. those dreams you have, keep fighting for them, because they do come true. whatever anyone ever says, you have got this. so keep creating silly little internet videos. keep writing story ideas down on bits of paper. keep rearranging your room. keep dreaming and don't stop. I'm sorry I might not leave you anymore messages past Anna, but just know that you've got this. and you'll continue to get it because you deserve it.

love, current anna x

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About A Boy Book Thoughts

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Listen to this review here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6VvtnDuzmB6JmYpwWPRAlL?si=HL1DLVYcQjCe_Wu8Fa5xtQ&utm_source=copy-link&dl_branch=1

Hello, today, I want to talk about a book I’ve just finished reading called About a Boy by Nick Hornby. It’s told from the viewpoints of a 12 year old boy who is seen as uncool, and a 30 something year old man who randomly comes into his life. The book came out in 1998 which was the year I was born, and in 2002 a film staring Hugh Grant and Nicholas Hoult. I’ve also just done some googling and in 2014, an American sitcom was made based on the book but I do not want to ever see it.

The film is one of my favourites, something that truly brings joy and comfort, so when my gran found me a copy of the book in a charity shop years ago, I didn’t think it would take me this long to start reading it. But now I have and I’m going to talk about it with a little comparison to the film, so there will be spoilers.

So straight off the bat, the first 2 thirds of the book are spot on to the film adaptation. It was really fun getting to read the sides of the characters and see how that would be turned into narration from the actors. One of the reasons I love the film is so that we can truly know their thoughts as they do different things, so I loved how the language and emotion of the book was well transformed into a script. 

Now looking to the end, I didn’t expect it to change so it was quite refreshing really to be given a different viewpoint. I can understand why the film is different, to give it the beautiful and funny and inspirational end that it does have, whereas the book is slightly harsher in its execution. It’s a coming of age story and where the film leaves us with this larger than life feeling of love, the book gives us something realistic, but still with a comedic charm.

The chapters take it in turns to let us see the world through Will and Marcus’ eyes and I just find this difference between a 12 year old and a 30 year old so interesting. I think the blurb on the back of my book says how Marcus wants will to teach him how to be cool but it’s actually Marcus teaching will how to live and love. I also love how it looks at different families and friends and the role each individual person plays in someones life. Being there or not affects things, deciding to do something or holding back affects things, talking outlaid or not affects things, and I love how this book truly delves into the idea of life and how we all so differently live it. 

If I hadn’t have seen and loved the film for so many years before reading, I’m not sure if I would have enjoyed it that much, as I’m not the target audience or the characters. It’s also old and the way it treats women isn’t always good, but that’s the point of the story and the change we see is really lovely. But I really do recommend it as a coming of age novel which I never really thought of it as until now. It’s something that I could read as a 22 year old and love, but also my mum or gran could read it and love it also. It has this brilliant flexibility and it’s definately one I’d recommend  and want to read again.

Thanks for reading, have a great day!

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My Thoughts After Rewatching Game Of Thrones

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hello people of the 7 kingdoms and further afield. When Game Of Thrones first came out, I was all over it, and when it ended, I was part of the people who felt disappointed by how we'd been left. It's been nearly 2 years since the finale episode first aired and people are still angry. I'd originally watched the show with my dad, and with my mum along for the journey too, we decided to rewatch all 8 seasons.

Obviously there are lots of Game of Thrones spoilers ahead!

The first reason was just because we loved the show, enjoyed the characters, and knowing where it'd end up, it'd be fun to see the foreshadowing and just relive some of the amazing moments again. We really wanted to introduce this to great show to my mum too, even though she always googles spoilers so knew the ending of it all before we'd even finished the first episode haha!

The second reason for us watching it again was due to the final 3 episodes and the let down that a lot of the world had felt with them the first time round. We wanted to give it a second chance without the big expectations and with all that being said, here are some of the dumb thoughts that came to my mind that I kept track on my phone whilst watching all the episodes for the past few months:

dany and her story is so boring

ughhhh whenever Dany was on screen I could have screamed. I found the start of her story exciting, being given away to marry but receiving the dragon eggs, but every other time we saw her I found her so boring. It might've been her story, the fact she wasn't in Westeros and interacting with everyone there, I don't know, but people adore her and I just do not haha! I think as well because all she does is the same thing over and over, and in the end when we get to where she wants, she bloody kills everyone!!!!! she got what was coming to her, sorry not sorry xoxo

Brienne changes her loyalty so quickly

I love Brienne, so much, but she's with Renly and then Cat and then she's not with Jamie but kinda falls in love with him and I dunno, her switching sides just seems to happen so fast. It's wild to me that in this sort of world, if you come across a stranger they're either gonna rob you or kill you, and if you're lucky it may be both, so I understand that actually switching loyalties may work to your advantage, but for her to do it so quickly when we're first introduced to her, it kinda ruins her big sayings about oaths and keeping promises.

bran is bloody annoying, and apart from going back in time to find out the truth, I hate when his story is on screen

my mum felt the exact same. Bran is an annoying lil whiney boy who turns into such a freaky weirdo and he can't do anything for himself and ughhh he was just a bit boring. unless we got to go back in time and see the groundbreaking truth, I did not want him on my screen.

first time watching, Sansa annoyed me, but she has one of the best character progressions

yep, the first time I watched the show, Sansa stressed me out a lot. Most of the time it wasn't her fault because it was down to her situation and other people, but I was so on the side of Arya and wanting to learn how to fight so I saw her as annoying. But seeing it again, her character growth is phenomenal, and what she goes through just proves to anyone that it can be tough but you can still end up as a queen. go her!!!!

the hound would be a good guy to be with

When we first meet the Hound, he's presented to us and this big, tough, scary guy, but the more we get to know him, he is one the most selfless and sweet people. if I had to be with anybody in any situation, I'd pick him. maybe not in a fire though.

Arya and Gendry having sex annoys me so much, so out of character, I think having them chat and maybe end with a kiss would be nicer

oh no do not get me started on this!!! I hate mushy relationship stuff in things like this, so to take it to the next level and have these 2 people who kinda had chemistry but also sort of a sibling relationship in my eyes to suddenly be crushing on each other was kinda weird to me. so to top it all off with sex was not something I wanted to see.

the trial of little finger is so good

oooooh sweet sweet justice, I adore this bit so much!!!!!!! "shall we begin" "I suppose so" "you stand charged with lots of crimes, how do you plead.... little finger?" OOOOOOHHHH YES BABYYY!!! rip Peter xoxox

Brienne being knighted is so sweet

my heart!!!! when some of our fave characters are all sat in the great hall before the battle in S8 E2 (I think) and Jamie knights Brienne omg I have so much love for that moment!!! and Tormund crushing on "the big lady" omg iconic!!

lyanna Mormont and pod are my heroes

if you ask me who my fave character from the show is, I'd say Arya, but wow Lyanna and Podrick have my whole heart. they are so strong and interesting and clever and they stand out and I just think that they're so so so cool! I also think that Theon is fantastic.

the unsullied take such tiny steps

I know they're a big army so can't take big steps because then they might fall out of formation but they are so lil and tiny hehehe

if I have to listen to one more of Tyrion's speeches I will scream!!!!

the final episode is just one big Tyrion speech. he drinks and he knows things but sometimes I just wished he'd shut up. please Tyrion, please.

so those were the random thoughts I wrote down on my phone whilst rewatching the show with a bit of a description for each too! now onto the good stuff, did I think the ending was as bad as the first time.

in short, no. I think when you watch a show as big as Game of Thrones, you expect something so major, and with the rest of the series being crazy battle after battle with all of our favourite characters united, you expect that. to end a well loved round the world series must be so tough, and you're never going to please everyone, but watching it a second time, we see what we need to see but leave it in a way where our favourite characters' stories are tied up but also left open. we want for Arya to kill everyone, for Jon to be king, for Sam to do something spectacular and for the others to continue being their great heroic selves, but that doesn't happen and that's ok. if it was what we wanted, we'd say we had predicted it and it would've felt boring in some ways, but keeping realistic in its approach does work. I know why we were all so disappointed, but I think my response to that is to do what I've done and watch it again. don't worry about what will happen, have no big expectations, just focus on why you enjoy the show and it will end enjoyably for you.

and if you still hate it, that's your problem xoxo

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My Thoughts: Fearless (Taylor's Version)

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Listen to this review here: https://closeupculture.com/2021/04/09/fearless-taylors-version%E2%80%AA%E2%80%AC-album-review/

Hello, I’m Anna and I would say that I’m a swiftie. It’s only in recent years that I’ve become a big fan of Taylor Swift and I’ve mentioned it on the podcast before so I won’t go into the details, but I love her songwriting and music so listen to it a lot. 

You may have seen in the news that she’s been fighting to own her masters. Basically, when she signed a record deal at a young age, she also signed her songs over to them, and long story short, someone owned her originals but then sold them for a few hundred million, leaving swift without them. Due to a clause in the contract, after a few years, she’s able to rerecord and rerelease the 6 albums she doesn’t own, which is what I’m going to be talking about today!

At midnight, the rerecordings of her second album Fearless were released. When the albums came out originally, of course I heard the singles on the radio, but I never listened to the albums in full, it’s only in the last few years I’ve fully dived into them. Now, I’m more of a Speak now than Fearless girl, but it was nice hearing the songs she obviously adores in a way that respects her and everyone who worked on the album originally. 

When Taylor announced that she was going to be rerecording the albums, I immediately thought that meant that she’d be switching things up, maybe playing with the key, the instruments, people featuring, but no, she’s created a perfect replica of something that meant so much to her when she was 18. There are some tweaks you can hear if you know the songs well, but like I said I listen to her others more so I don’t notice all of the minor differences, but that’s not the point at all. The point of her doing this is so that she will own the work she has put her heart and soul into over the years and I think it’s a brilliant idea. i want to say the word regress, which is what she does does with her voice, becoming her teenage self again, but I don’t mean that in a rude way. obviously her voice has only got better and better over the years as her career has gone from gold to platinum. You can hear a maturity in her words, but also the teenager in herself waking up and having herself heard truly for the first time.

I won’t go into the original album songs, because they’ve been out for like 13 years, but with this new version of fearless, Taylor has let us into her vault of songs that she wrote at the time of the album release but just didn’t fit on the CD or were rejected at the time.  We have 6 new songs, 2 kind of being released for promo or singles, which are You All Over Me and Mr Perfectly fine which I heard prior listening to the album in full. They both sum up 18 year old Taylor pretty well, both being incredibly written. One is a ballad, beautiful with a country twang and joins the other songs similar to it without causing a stir. Mr Perfectly Fine on the other hand is the more alive side of Taylor, inviting us to a sleepover where we chat about boys and how to get over them. I love country music, so to be able to listen to a loved country album, rereleased and loved by the artist with some new tracks is a fab way to spend a Friday!

We Were Happy makes me think so much of songs on her album Evermore which is one of the 3 she fully owns, so it’s cool to hear that she has grown and changed, but at the same time, she’s still the girl who loves hard and feels loss. It has such a similar vibe to her new stuff and I love how she has progressed as an artist but also stayed true to herself.

That’s When is beautiful and features Keith Urban. I do love Taylor Swift but I hate her collaborations at times, because she’s very wooo let’s go girls I’m on your side, but when she features women they sing backing tracks and you can hardly hear them, but when she features a man, they have whole verses and choruses to themselves. I know I’m not the only one who thinks this, and some of her early songwriting reflects thoughts of women saying that I’m good because I wear trainers and t-shirts but she’s bad because she wears heals and skirts, cough cough You Belong With Me and Better Than Revenge. You can come for me if you want but ya know it’s true swifties hahah. I’m a feminist apart from the 7 minutes and 28 seconds those songs collectively last for lol.

Don’t You is the next track and sounds kinda like it should be on her album 1989 and with the lyrics, I feel it could be on Evermore. As always, she hits it out of the park with the bridge! I love the echoey voices and things omg yeah this is a chill one.

And onto the final track, we have Bye Bye Baby which again, is a heartfelt track full of feeling that belongs on this album whether the big dogs at the record label like it or not.

It’s been nice listening to fearless in full, especially a version that fully belongs to Taylor. Who knows when the other rerecording will be out and with how hard she works, we’ll probably have a whole other new album soon, but how cool to be able to go over your old work and bring it to life again.

I hope you enjoy listening to the album if choose to! Bye! 

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The Second Sleep Book Thoughts

Listen to this review instead: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Ip3tZk40ocpA4Znb3r7ft?si=OWIylhriTJKW9gkFlWNqfQ

Hello and welcome to another tasty debrief! Today I will be talking about a book I finished the other day called The Second Sleep by Robert Harris. Here is the blurb:

"All civilizations consider themselves invulnerable; history warns us that none is."

1468. A young priest, Christopher Fairfax, arrives in a remote English village to conduct the funeral of his predecessor. The land around is strewn with ancient artefacts--coins, fragments of glass, human bones--which the old parson used to collect. Did his obsession with the past lead to his death?

As Fairfax is drawn more deeply into the isolated community, everything he believes--about himself, his faith and the history of his world--is tested to destruction.

I will be going into spoilers so you may want to stop reading if you haven't read it, but it's up to you! You have been warned!

So, my dad had read the book during the first lockdown, and as I've gotten into reading a lot more this year, I thought I'd give it a go. Since starting it, my dad has gotten a few other Robert Harris books so I might try those in the future, but as my first venture into his work, I think this is a good pick.

I felt quite confused when starting as the blurb on the book only really described the first few chapters so I had no clue what would happen, and even just a few pages from the end, I had no clue where it would end up. Normally what I read is predicable or you can work out what might happen, but I had no clue with this one. I did quite like that in a way though. It didn't feel like the most dramatic or thrilling of stories, so to be kept on edge by the unknown was a plus.

I really liked getting to follow Christopher Fairfax on his journey, and learning about the world as he did. I wasn't shocked when we discovered that this primitive world was actually in the future because my dad had dropped a few things like that when he had read it, but it didn't mean that I enjoyed it any less. I thought the whole concept was so clever and as a planet that loves a good apocalypse story, this book felt so exciting and different to any book, film or show I've seen before! 

I liked how it was simple, like there was a lot happening, but there weren't hundreds of characters or places or things to remember, instead just a main core of people to focus on and a few locations to get to grips with. Obviously books like Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings are incredibly written and detailed, but they can feel alien and difficult to get on with, which made The Second Sleep quite easy to sink into. 

Now, I'm definitely not the first to say this but the ending did disappoint me. It wasn't what I expected at all. I had planned in my head that they'd find a secret bunker which somehow still had electricity and Fairfax would plug in a phone and see the screen light up and scene! So for it to be a burial chamber and only wall paintings and screens instead, I was unsure. I did a bit of googling after, and I spoke to my parents and it made me realise that it was the ending that was perfect for the book. We live in a materialistic world with so much of what we own online and in the cloud. If something turns all that off one day, we lose it all. Photos, money, documents, so much is gone and we praise it. We live with them attached to our hands. And it's not always a bad thing, but to realise that through this, that one day it will all be gone, really is eye opening.

I was confused by the second sleep idea and how the village stayed awake through it. I didn't understand how Fairfax could drink so much and blackout at the wake as I definitely thought the villagers were evil and weird. Some bits I felt were odd and not necessary to the story unless they were going to be bought up again, but others were so beautifully written, thought-out and described that really make this book an incredible read. 

I think I would like to read Fatherland next which is arguably Robert Harris' best known book, but I really do admire his writing style, and hope that you enjoyed it if you've read it! Thanks for reading!

Dark Places Book Thoughts *no spoilers*

The book Dark Places contains talks of blood, child sexual abuse and assault, depression, drugs, murder and suicide. This review does not go into those details, but if you plan on reading the book, those are the trigger warnings for it.

Listen to this review instead: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2y9hWN1eT2mwqXL6ISLbx4?si=QbZKW1XHRuim_wgQdTFc2A

One of my resolutions for this year is to read at least one book a month, and as I’ve already read Gillian’s books Gone Girl and Sharp Objects which we did do a full podcast episode on regarding the book and the show (listen to that here: https://closeupculture.com/2019/08/06/does-amy-adams-deserve-an-emmy-for-sharp-objects/ ), it only seemed natural for me to continue reading her work. it’s taken me about 2 weeks to read as I began reading just a few chapters each night before bed, but as I got past the half way point, I read more and more, just wanting to discover the truth. This will be a non spoiler-y chat, so if you’re interested in the book but haven’t read it yet, no worries from me! Here's the blurb from the back of the book.

Libby Day was just seven years old when her evidence but her fifteen year old brother behind bars. Since then, she has been drifting. But when she is contacted by a group who are convinced of Ben's innocence, Libby starts to ask question's she never dared to before. Was the voice she heard her brother's? Ben was a misfit in their small town, but was he capable of murder? Are there secrets to uncover at the family farm or is Libby deluding herself because she wants her brother back? She begins to realise that everyone in her family had something to hide that day... especially Ben. Now twenty four years later, the truth is going to be even harder to find. Who did massacre the Day family?

Like I said, I’ve read 2 of Gillian’s other books, and I totally love her style. I’m not a big horror fan with jumps cares and ghosts, but I think years of watching films and becoming slightly desensitised, gore and death is something that doesn’t spook me out when reading or watching things. I think I can also thank having periods, haha. 

This book is definitely darker than the others from her, as the title suggests, really diving into things like the devil rather than just our own personal flaws. I really like the writing style, flicking between diary-like entries marking the day of the murders and also the decades later with libby, the main heroine of the story. They mirrored each other in amazing ways, letting us really get into the minds of the characters and only really learning as they did.

The story is quite complex with the details but at the same time when looking back on it, it is simple, and makes me wonder about actual murder cases and how they could be solved over time as the science of dna develops and people on their death beds wanting to die at peace. I just thought it was so clever to be able to move between the different times so we could see the police picture, but also the true picture, one which often isn’t found.

When I read Gillian’s book Sharp Objects, I said in the podcast episode then that it felt old fashioned, like we’d been taken back 100 years due to the small town not really progressing with the times. This book felt very different, and even though we have date and time stamps at the start of each chapter letting us know that it was set in the mid 80s for half of it, the only thing really emphasising this was that they didn’t have phones. Maybe for an American reader, they could pick up better on general things like the school and bike riding, but as a British reader, I liked that it could be ambiguous time setting and even be turned into a futuristic novel. Just something I picked up on really.

The back of the book has discussion points, I guess for schools and book clubs, but one question stands out to me. Dark places has a very strong sense of place. How has the author achieved this? Personally, after reading her other books, I feel that Gillian Flynn is amazing at describing places and really making us feel like we have driven past the houses or been round the fields or walked into the shops. She uses all her characters senses to relay the information to the reader, noting how roads tasted like fast food as libby drove to different places, or the tickling of foxtail weeds against children’s wrists. I often feel like American farmland is portrayed as quite a scary place to be in films, and this book is no different, but the way it’s talked about in this book makes us feel like we can be at home and comfortable there also.

There is a film version of the book on amazon prime that I might watch one day, but until then, I’m just happy that I was finally able to read this book as it’s been on my shelf for a while, and just appreciate Gillian’s writing even more. 

So that’s been my tasty debrief as part of the close up culture podcast, I hope this has inspired you to read the book, or think about it again if you have already. Thanks for reading!

LGBT+ History Month: Moonlight Film Review

Chiron, a young African-American boy, finds guidance in Juan, a drug dealer, who teaches him to carve his own path. As he grows up in Miami, Juan's advice leaves a lasting impression on him.

Moonlight came out in 2016, and if you weren’t aware of it before the 2017 Oscars, you would be after every news outlet reported the story of how La La Land was presented as Best Picture, when really a mistake had been made and Moonlight was the true winner of the award. In recent years, I’ve had a Cineworld Unlimited Card, meaning I pay a set amount each year and have access to as many screenings as I’d like. However, the year Moonlight and every other Oscars contender came out, going to the cinema was an expensive thing, and I only really saw the big films when they eventually came out on DVD or were moved to streaming platforms. This meant that even though every bone in my body wanted to see Moonlight, I’ve only been able to see it recently due to it being shown on Film4 and me recording it. I knew that it touched LGBTQ+ topics, but other than that, nothing much apart from a shot of a boy being held up in water.

 

Taking place over 3 life chapters, we’re introduced to a young Chiron who goes by the nickname Little, which is also the title of this first section. After being chased by bullies, Little is helped by Juan, who is the only adult that he speaks to in this entire act. Alex R. Hibbert gives us this emotional performance, making me want to climb through the screen and give his character, Little, a hug. I always say that child actors need to be protected at all costs, and he is another name added to the list. As his only lines are when he’s with the character of Juan, he has to put everything into his body language and show his emotions in other ways. His performance felt so real, especially across from Mahershala Ali who plays drug dealer Juan. Seeing Ali as tough but caring really made this film feel positive when things weren’t going right. Even when there are bullies and bad people, this film reminds us that there is hope and inspiration. I was disappointed that Juan’s character only appeared in this first film chapter, but even though his screen time was short, his influence on the character of Little stayed with him and us up until the final frame. Truly beautiful, finally getting to see the scene where they’re in the water was so touching. After seeing it everywhere, to learn of its meaning, in promises and care, was something so special. I know to some it will seem simple, but compared to the scale of the film, it’s such an important, meaningful moment that sticks with us as viewers but also the characters. To have multiple people play the same parts, it really does emphasise the thought and dedication put into this film. Even though each portrayal of Chiron was different as he grew with age, each actor worked hard to play the same person to continue this story with respect and grace.

 

Chiron, the title of the second chapter, now follows Little in high school, now wanting to choose his own name and fate. Breaking down the story like this reminded me of the film Boyhood, and how we see characters grow and change over time. Written and directed by Barry Jenkins, Moonlight is based on an unpublished semi-autobiographical play by Tarell Alvin McCraney. You can really see the theatre aspects of this film, obviously with the different acts, but also with its large sections of dialogue, really letting us learn about the characters thoughts and feelings with what’s going on. Even though it’s estimated that the budget was up to $4 million, everything about this felt like an indie film, something tucked away that wouldn’t be seen by vast audiences. That style really worked with the telling of the story, but at times it did feel a little flat for me. I love things with drama, changing scenes that keep me hooked, but Moonlight didn’t really do that. It’s beautiful and takes its time to show us how love and freedom doesn’t come overnight, but that caused me to not be as excited as I wanted to be with it. I think that ‘bored’ is a harsh word, and it was so totally beautiful, but it definitely had me feeling a certain way towards it at times, I just can’t describe it.

To round off, act 3 is titled ‘Black’, the nickname given to Chiron by Kevin. As the whirlwind of life slows down, we see forgiveness and love in full force during this section. As well as forgiving his mother for not being the mum he needed, Chiron goes to visit Kevin who is the only person he has experience sexual pleasure with. Beautiful and tender, being able to see this man grow was something we don’t often see in films or even in real life. This visually alluring film allows men, specifically black and gay, to be seen and heard in films in an emotive and understanding way. Sure, we grow up having all the superheroes be men, all the villains be men, it’s only more recently in film history that women are given more than a set of underwear as a costume and the chance to talk about periods and faking orgasms. Men may have had a higher stand since the beginning, but they’ve also had to hide a lot. I’m so glad this film gives representation to men’s thoughts and feelings about life, their family, school, sexuality, identity and so much more. Fascinating, we get to sit down and see a story that rarely ever gets told, and according to The New York Times, The Guardian, and so many other sources, it’s one of the best films of the 21^st century. 

 

To be the first film with an all-black cast and LGBTQ+ themes to win the Best Picture award at the Oscars, Moonlight really is an incredible movie moment that has carved its place in film history. Personally, I prefer a little more drama and excitement to really keep me hooked to the screen, but I can’t deny how loving and award-worthy this film is.

LGBT+ History Month: Jewel's Catch One Documentary Review

In this 2016 Netflix documentary, filmmakers explore the history of the oldest black-owned disco in America and its owner Jewel Thais-Williams, who defied discrimination and hate for 42 years.

I’m a big fan of documentaries, especially those that let us see into an unknown world, people who don’t get the credit that they deserve. Sure, it’s nice seeing a big blockbuster biopic, but to be able to discover new talent and people is a really lovely experience. So, when I was scrolling through Netflix and saw this film pop up, I knew I had to watch it. As the description suggests, we’re welcomed with open arms to Jewel’s Catch One club, home to anyone who doesn’t feel like they can be at home anywhere else.

Directed and produced by C. Fitz, I was really struck by her style, really diving into the true story of this club and not leaving any stone unturned. Told by Jewel herself, along with friends and club patrons, I loved how the talking heads sections dictated the story, with overlays of archived and filmed footage. This really made everything feel truthful and down-to-earth, focusing on the people and their lives with the club rather than making things feel over the top. Some documentaries make something seem larger than life, painting a picture that makes the film seem fun, but doesn’t actually match the truth. Instead of going in deep into the wild times at the club, we see the people that made the club instead which I really appreciate.

 

In an hour and a half, we see 42 years played out in front of us. In some ways, 4 decades feels like a really long time, but in others it doesn’t. The fact that Jewel has created this wonderous community in this time is inspiring and magic to watch. As well as just talking about Catch One, I thought it was brilliant how the story swayed through black and LGBTQ+ history too, as that’s also such a big part of the club. From police inspections to the AIDS crisis, Catch One was there and stood strong through all of it, and I’m so glad that all of those moments were shared, the good and the bad.

 

From the start to the end, the documentary wraps up with the closing down party of the club from 2015. Feeling sad, I didn’t realise that the club had closed, so after watching an incredible journey, I hoped I’d be able to go and dance their one day. But to back up what I’ve said, having Jewel herself plus her friends and patrons share their thoughts and feelings was a loving way to show support to the black and LGBTQ+ people in America and further afield. As a friend of the club, Marlon Behn, said when being interviewed on the red carpet at the ‘Last Dance’ party, “when everyone thought she couldn’t do it…she did something equivalent to Martin Luther King and Malcolm X”. This line stood out to me so much, really affirming with me that we don’t need to be well known and remembered to create history and be there for the people around us. I’m so glad this documentary has been made so that people know of Jewel’s love, life, and all that she’s selflessly done over the years. She may not be known by as many people as MLK, but her name will surely live on forever with those who do.

LGBT+ History Month: The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson Documentary Review

Just for the record, I will be using the pronouns she/her for Marsha. According to Tatler, Marsha sometimes identified as gay or as a drag queen, but transgender wasn’t really a widespread term at the time she was alive. With research, it seems that there is no particular right way to address her, even her family and friends in the film use a range of he/she/they. If you have any other research or knowledge, please let me know so I can change my writing accordingly and respectfully.

Marsha P. Johnson was a trans-rights activist who played a big role in important moments for the LGBTQ+ movement including the Stonewall protests for which she was nicknamed the "Saint of Christopher Street" (where the Stonewall Inn is located), because of the generosity she had shown towards people in New York's LGBTQ+ community. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson is a 2017 documentary film that looks at her life and the mystery around her death in 1992 which was initially ruled as suicide by police despite suspicious circumstances.

When this documentary came out, there were a lot of people against it. This was because the film idea had originally come from Tourmaline, a transgender artist and activist. She had spent years archiving, researching, interviewing, and really getting to grips with who Marsha was and the life that she led. However, instead of her making the film, David France apparently stole the idea and made the film instead. Even though he is gay and known for his investigative journalism on LGBTQ+ topics, Tourmaline and others felt that this move was continuing the hurt that Marsha was trying to stop. Instead of giving the documentary funding to a black, trans creative, Netflix gave the multimillion-dollar deal to a white man. When writing this review, I think it’s important to state the facts, and the truth is that even though we as people have come a long way in love and acceptance, there is still not enough being done. Have things really changed? This film was more of a murder, detective mystery than I expected it to be. I thought we’d see the life of a great person and the legacy with that history, but Netflix has made some pretty good documentaries, so I was intrigued in how they were going to present this mystery. Overall, I did like the film and the stories told in it, but I would’ve loved to have seen Tourmaline’s version with the love and creativity, more than the classic Netflix documentary style that people expect.

I think I first became aware of Marsha a few years ago. It was pride month and people were positing pictures of her on twitter, reminding the world that a black, trans woman was there at Stonewall. She is one of the people who has made life what it is today for LGBTQ+ people. Seeing her face shared each year, she was always someone who interested me, really inspiring me to keep pushing for love and justice. However due to the problems with Tourmaline not getting the nod to make the film and the arguments about it, I didn’t watch the film when it was released. Now some time has passed, and I want to learn more about this incredible person, of course a film is the first place to turn. Like I said about the murder mystery style, I think I would’ve preferred, even expected, a film about Marsha’s life and legacy, and not death. Although I guess the title gives it away.

Like all Netflix documentaries, we have this clean and crisp style however with this film it didn’t feel quite right with me. I felt lost in time, unsure if what I was seeing was old or new, left wondering if Marsha’s death was more important than her life. Following Victoria Cruz’s investigation, I think the main focus of the film is to let the audience know how so many trans people really do put their life on the line by coming out and that even though Marsha sadly died nearly 30 years ago, things are still awfully bad for people who don’t identify as straight. The editing, pulling in a mixture of archived footage as well as crime-like b-roll, really added to the drama of her death and amplified Victoria’s points. Lingering on certain moments, we were swept through emotions like sadness and anger, pushing the idea that the people with power don’t care for you unless you’re white and like the opposite gender. When we see Sylvia Rivera’s funeral, a close friend to Marsha and fellow gay and trans rights activist, a news reporter describes her life as trying to “protect the rights of this most despised of minorities” and watching it, I had to pause it. It genuinely made me feel sick. I’m sad and angry and tired of human beings not free to be themselves. The way that they are described like wild beats who want to harm people, when truly that’s the description of the people hating them. Watching something like this really is great to learn and understand how life has changed, but it also feels like people are still being kicked down and like it won’t ever end.

I don’t think that there was much music, but when there was, it was deep and used strings to create thrill and worry within us. Again, I liked this style, but I think when showing archived footage, it would have been really nice to use lighter, brighter music to portray happiness and goodness that Marsha and her friends gave to the world. My favourite use of diegetic sound was the hymn sung at Marsha’s funeral which played over gatherings of people walking in the streets with balloons and artwork and stood near the river in tears. It felt so bittersweet, hearing this angelic song over images of pain.

Throughout the film, we see Victoria collect her evidence towards the investigation, and as far as I suspected, it felt like it wasn’t going anywhere. However, about 10 minutes from the end, she fills an envelope, addresses it to the FBI and delivers it. I both loved this ending and felt quite disappointed by it. I loved that even though it feels like the world had given up, someone hadn’t, and often all it takes is one person. To leave us on this cliff-hanger, it amplifies the point that we will probably never know the truth about Marsha, and that deaths will continue unless the people in power do what they should to make the law fair and just. But at the same time, it’s left me feeling sad, feeling like all Marsha was good for was creating a mystery that Netflix could turn into a film. Even to end on this mystery and then show one final clip of her saying something provoking or funny or meaningful, would have bought the film full circle, really letting us see that a beautiful person was taken all those years ago, but her life and love lives on. I guess it’s personal preference, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to decide if I liked the way it rounded off or not, but it feels like it’s not the end.

As fellow drag queen Sylvia Rivera said in the film, “She’ll always be in the front of this parade.” I’m so glad I’ve been able to learn more about Marsha “Pay It No Mind” Johnson and the path that she has paved for so many people. She’ll never be forgotten, and I’m glad to see and know that in life she was surrounded by wonder and hope, and that definitely did not leave this world with her. I think without the drama of directors, the film allows the viewer a great insight into the death and mystery of a miraculous woman who deserved all the love in the world. But for me, I was expecting to see more of her colourful life, which a different director may have given to us.

LGBT+ History Month: Tangerine Film Review

When a hooker finds out that her boyfriend has cheated on her whilst she was in jail, she sets out with her best friend to find him and his new lover to teach them a lesson.

After watching The Florida Project last year, I became so interested with the idea of films not needing to be shot on big cameras with big budgets to really be good. The film Tangerine has always been one I wanted to watch, so when I saw that it was showing on Christmas Day night 2020, I snuck downstairs to record it. Knowing that Sean Baker directed this too, I was really intrigued to see a film fully shot on an iPhone and how that would work. I see lots of films and shorts, and often find that the quality is fantastic, and the look of it is something to remember, but the story doesn’t necessarily match up to that which is a big shame. If people write something so good, but don’t have the budget or the contacts to make the film look professional, I feel like juries and festivals instantly see something as bad quality and assume that the narrative is too. This whole film is shot using lenses and there is equipment to help with production, but to know that we are seeing this film through an iPhone 5s, inspires me, and I hope it inspires others too, to take what we have and just make the stories we want to tell.

 

I didn’t know what to expect from this film when I pressed play, but I was really intrigued with what I found. Following a day in the life of Hollywood and its people in a way we don’t typically see was a cool twist on the dreams and celebrity lifestyles we normally see in films. When I think of the location, glitz and glamour is the first thing to come to mind, so it’s interesting to think that both the lead characters also think of that, but more about their appearance than the streets they’re living on. Sin-Dee, the woman trying to find her man after getting out of jail is played by the kick-ass Kitana Kiki Rodriguez. She is feisty and strong, not wanting to back down from anything. Her style isn’t something I’d wear personally, but her no fear attitude in a place where she won’t receive love from anyone is a gorgeous reminder that as long as we love ourselves, we have the right to be whoever we want to be. Starring opposite her is the powerful Mya Taylor as Alexandra, a singer who is struggling to do that full time. Even though these women are very different, they both have similarities which draw them together, and even when things fell apart, they knew that they had each other. I just loved seeing two forceful and energetic women on my screen, instead of the classic stereotypes of having one of them be shy, or have an illness, or something rubbish. Why can’t we have more of this?

Seeing not one but two trans females heading this film is the beautiful breath of fresh air. I saw a short film recently (Trashy Booty) starring two trans women and it made me so excited for the future of representation in film. That short came out in 2020, and even though they’re slightly similar in style, it’s interesting to see Tangerine and its comments on transphobia and homophobia just 5 years prior. Even though it feels like nothing has changed, so much has, and it’s representation like this that keeps pushing it, allowing people, whoever they are, to be safe, seen and celebrated. I think this film is also a good conversation starter for people working in the sex industry. I don’t feel like the best person to talk about it, but this film really does push the boundaries, something I didn’t really personally see until 2019 film and TV releases. 

 

We start in a donut shop and think that it’ll end there too, but the journey of colours and lights really create this dream-like atmosphere. Even though I spotted a tangerine air freshener in the taxi, the film is called Tangerine due to the orange hues and colours. Seeing the bright west coast sun set was stunning, and something that you don’t really notice, yet is always there. These bright colours made the film feel like a crazy neon experience, but at the same time, it created this happy and content atmosphere. Both of these descriptions, I feel at times, work well to describe the film we’re seeing, but as the story fluctuates, it’s nice to always have familiarity with the sky over head and the colours flaring through the lens. From sight to sound, I loved the variety of music that played throughout. It struck me how important each track was to convey emotions and things changing. It’s definitely a soundtrack that has stood out for me, swaying between unexpected classical songs to dramatic rock and pop. 

Watching this film, I really felt main character vibes, and I know that’s an odd thing to say, but social media has been obsessed recently with the idea that we should all play the main character in our lives. My playlist is a mix of so much, and I have my phone in my back pocket ready to capture life as it plays out in front of me. If a day like the girl’s in Tangerine have is captured for us to see, surely my days are worth appreciating and experiencing to the full too. This film really has struck a chord with me, both in heavier topics like I mentioned, but most importantly leaving me with an inspiration to love the mundane and make the most of it. I guess I’d better find a donut shop that opens late near me.

LGBT+ History Month: Portrait of a Lady on Fire Film Review

It’s 1770, and an isolated island in Brittany becomes home to Marianne for a short while. She’s a painter, commissioned to do the wedding portrait of Héloïse, a reluctant bride to be. Marianne must paint her in secret, so she observes Héloïse each day.

 

When this film first came out, I never got the chance to see it and I can’t remember why. On a big screen, surrounded by darkness, this film would’ve been a great experience of love told in the most poetic way. However, I’ve had to watch it on a small screen in my bedroom, but the romance and heart is still very much there.

 

I loved this true mix of bright, open spaces, taking in all that the house and the scenery outside had to offer. It was light and welcoming, compared to the darkness and shadow of night, really emphasising the silhouettes of the characters. I guess it made them stand out against the blackness, but it often made them sink into it, disappearing away from their true emotions. Claire Mathon was the cinematographer on the project, winning multiple awards on its release, and I love her use of light and dark as well as framing. For me, it made it feel old, like we really were seeing the 1770s come to life. It was clean and crisp but in a way that didn’t make it feel modern and fake. Everything stayed very central, as if each frame is a study for a painting, allowing us to easily follow the action in a dreamy, buttery-esque way. It’s an easy watch for the eyes, only adding to the romance.

 

Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel star opposite each other as secret lovers and do such a brilliant job at capturing our hearts as well as their character’s, so much so that they were voted as Best Screen Couple in 2019 by the women Film Critics Circle. At times, I felt that the characters felt quite static, but then I had to remind myself that we’re seeing late eighteenth century, and it’s hard enough for people to reveal their true feelings now, let alone come out as liking the same sex back then. This forbidden affair follows the stereotype of period dramas, showing an aristocrat and lowly painter fall in love, but the intensity is heightened with the knowledge that both are women. Merlant and Haenel play what seem to be simple characters, but through great depth in their emotions and body language, we can learn about love and loss at the time when it’s set, but also the history of being gay and how you live life coping with hiding it. It’s the definition of bittersweet. Would you want to live your life in hiding if it meant you could only spend a few Summer weeks with someone you dearly love?

 

Written and directed by Céline Sciamma, I adore her delicate nature with approaching a love like this. Sex isn’t thrust at our screen, instead, we have respect for the female body and mind. This allows us into the relationship in a way that doesn’t glorify the naked body for views, but for art and intimacy. Sciamma won best screenplay for the film at Cannes in 2019, and has won many others since, truly letting us know that this film is loved and appreciated. Every now and then, a wild card film like this stands out against the multi-million budget blockbusters, and I am so pleased that this film has grabbed the heart of so many.

 

Beginning in a painter’s studio and ending in a theatre, we see art in all that this film has to offer. After finally seeing it, I fully know why it’s loved and highly awarded just as it deserves. It’s full of marvellous joy, but also great sadness, and every element of the production is something to drool over.

 

28.

 

(also, just the fact that they both never forgot about each other and communicated in ways that they’d hope the other would see but would also possibly be discarded or forgotten, I don’t know if my heart is full or broken?!?! Shoutout to the wonderfully talented Hélène Delmaire for her paintings!!! I feel like I have so much to say but I don’t know how haha)

 

LGBT+ History Month: All In My Family Film Documentary Review

All In My Family is a Netflix documentary, directed by and following the life of Hao Wu. He is gay and has chosen with his partner to have children via surrogates, but this is far from his traditional Chinese families understanding and acceptance.

With sweet, Pixar-like music and scenes of fun family meetings and dinners, this film appears quite happy and loving, however I had to stop myself laughing at times, realising that this isn’t a comedy, yet someone’s bittersweet life. I’m sure if you’ve seen it, you will have felt the same, finding comments from the older generation quite comical at times, yet world-shattering to the person sat behind the camera.

 

Flicking between New York, a place where you can express yourself without worry, and China, where elders and tradition are the most important things, we can begin to understand Hao’s thoughts and feelings towards both of these places. Sure, one is easier to live in, to be who you truly are without hiding, but the other is a true home as family is there. When people do come out, however their family reacts, it can be difficult to know what to do next. Should you stay in a place that makes you feel like you can’t be true to yourself, or should you move away but leave the people who do care about you? Families have funny ways of showing things, and I think that this documentary is a lovely reminder that not everyone agrees with everything we do, but if people love you, they will eventually come around.

 

A big discussion I see online is whether we should allow the older generation to keep their out-of-date opinions, or if we can get angry at them and call them out. TOTALLY different, but in a film called The Mule, Clint Eastwood’s character goes to help some black people who have broken down on the side of the road, however, calls them an old, rude slur name when addressing them, not meaning any harm by it. I don’t want to defend him, but if he has grown up in a world seeing this as the right word, and no one has called him out, how can he know it’s wrong? Similar with this film, if Chinese people grow up living a certain way, of course it’ll be strange and confusing for someone to present a different way of life to you. For me, I can accept my grandparents or the older generation saying something rude once, as I’ll then kindly tell them how times have changed and what’s been said is unacceptable, as I don’t think it’s fair to be angry and shout if they genuinely do not know. But if they continue with this, it makes me wonder if they’re doing it just because that’s what they’re used to, or to be rude and complicated to make fun of the “snowflake” generation. I love how this film allows the parents to have their opinion heard, but also the chance to grow and learn about how the world works now as opposed to then. We all react differently too, some people having no leeway in people saying something wrong, whereas others have to have patience because they’ll lose the people around them without it. Hao was able to keep composure at all times, even when his family were being quite rude with their feelings towards him and his choices, which just adds to the heart-breaking feelings that this film wants us to see.

 

This homegrown film really is something fresh. Even though it felt professional and clean cut, it was really great to see people being interviewed in their homes and in their native language. It made it feel cosy and easy to settle down into watching, just like the people would’ve felt talking in the natural situations. But it also added to the fact that so many people feel like they lose home, or even themselves after coming out, even if they are in familiar surroundings. Simple yet effective, I’m so glad that Hoa had the courage to share his story with both his family and the world, as I know that I appreciate it, so I’m sure every other watcher does too.

 

The film starts with photos being taken of Hao’s family, as he states that he doesn’t even know who a lot of the people are. Mirroring that, the film ends with photos being taken of his new family, I guess to keep up with family tradition, but also to symbolise that it’s ok for people to drop out of your life whether you share blood or not. What’s important now is holding onto the people around him who love him for who he is and making sure that his children grow up knowing these family members.

LGBT+ History Month: The Queen Documentary Review

It’s 1967 and New York City is host to the Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant, being run by Jack/Drag Queen Flawless Sabrina. 

I’ve always been intrigued by drag queens. Their character, their style, the way they don’t let the world stop them from being the royalty they are, to me, truly makes them wonderfully interesting people. Admiring them from afar, I’ve never been to drag shows or watched the popular show Drag Race, and I don’t really have a reason. Maybe watching this documentary will push me to dive more into the sparkling world.

 

The cameras follow a group of drag queens as they prepare for competition, all headed by Jack who becomes Sabrina in this wonderful universe. I found it really interesting to have this sneak peek into their lives as we saw them in casual outfits, without hair and makeup done, dancing and singing. Nowadays, I feel that drag queens don’t want to give away the mystery of their other personality, so we often see them as the queen and no one else. It was truly beautiful to be allowed to see so much more uncovered, unapologetic and open, full of love and acceptance. 

 

When I was choosing films for this event, I really wanted a wide selection of people shown on our screens, but it wasn’t until I saw this that I realised we needed to see films from all times too. Being shot in 1967, and released a year later, we know that being outwardly gay isn’t always easy nowadays, so it’s so tough to imagine how it was back then. Male homosexuality was illegal, the Sexual Offences act made it difficult for people to be who they were. Researching into it more is completely heart-breaking, learning that the men on my screen are happy with life, but are being torn down too. Vulnerable, sat together in a New York hotel room, they tell their stories so casually, knowing that most of society won’t fully accept their life and choices, even though they can’t do anything to change it.

 

Directed by Frank Simon, and with his small camera team, we are given what feels like a secretive glimpse into the drag world, even though we know we are welcome. The closeups make every person in the room feel exposed, adding to what I previously mentioned. I guess it’s the style of the time, filling the frame with richness, but as a modern-day viewer, I appreciate the time taken to capture absolutely everything. I love a good documentary, but I often find new releases to feel too crisp and clean. Sure, they add a gritty edge, but they don’t have the same energy as this production.

 

Narrated by Flawless Sabrina, a moment that stands out for me if when one of the queens doesn’t have a wig for the competition and Sabrina says something like: sending him out there without a wig is like sending him out there without his head. To some everyday people, even the idea of girls wearing makeup is a terrible thought, so I wonder what their thoughts would be on the art and skill that goes into becoming a drag queen? Seeing the bright lights, beautiful costumes and flawless makeup, I watch in awe, wanting the same feeling, yet knowing how tough the backlash must be wants me to do something to protect these people from the hate.

 

This candid, time capsule-esque documentary really is a piece of beauty, offering us a glimpse into an addictive world.

The film is available to watch on Netflix. This review is part of my 2021 LGBT+ History Month event, and you can check out my other reviews here on my blog, or see more on my Instagram: anna.create

LGBT+ History Month: Alaska is a Drag Film Review

An aspiring drag superstar is stuck working in a cannery in Alaska. When a boxing coach sees his potential, he has to face the real reason he is stuck in Alaska. 

One of my favourite stage shows that I’ve ever seen is Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. I just loved how fun and real it was and was over the moon when I heard that they were turning it into a film. To fill the void until then, I was pleasantly surprised to see this independent film jump out at me as I was scrolling through Netflix. I don’t want to compare the two, but I’m going into this with a love of something similar, so just know that I really enjoyed this too.

 

With dreams of being an international superstar, Leo (played by Martin L. Washington Jr in his film debut) skips around his small town aware that not everyone agrees with who he is, but not letting them change him. Flamboyant and unable to choose between boxing or drag, Leo’s story is an interesting one. I loved how it wasn’t typical in his family disowning him (although leaving in a different way is a large part of the backstory) or some other stereotype. Instead, it was something different, which really kept me guessing throughout how Leo would end up and who he’d choose to become. Often with his sort of story you can assume where the characters will end up, but with Alaska is a Drag, I really could just sit back and enjoy, letting the characters tell the story for me.

 

Starring opposite Martin is Maya Washington as Tristen, Leo’s super supportive sister who is dealing with illness. I subscribe to Maya’s YouTube channel and couldn’t believe it when I finally recognised her. The pair really make a wonderful sibling duo, showing us how brothers and sisters should be written. The journey they go on is something of beauty, but it doesn’t start like that. The writer wants us to know that even though life can feel fabulous, it can often fill us with fear. Tristen says, “Do you want me to pick you up after work for protection?” so casually in the first few sentences that from the start, we know that everything isn’t fine and dandy. It’s awful to think that people grow up, scared to be alone because of what others may think and do to them because of that.

 

Written and directed by Shaz Bennett, you can tell how important this story is to everyone involved, truly wanting to get across that people can be gay, but that isn’t everything they have to give to the world. Her film was described as ‘one to watch’ by Vogue, OUT Magazine and more, and you can really see why. Each line is so real and fluid in how they pass between the characters and come to life when they’re said. 

 

The editing and style struck me as delicate yet gritty. Walking through fields causes hundreds of dandelions to fly through the air, whilst on the other side of the building wall is a grey concrete gym. We see this glittery world through flashbacks and sudden daydreams, but all of that stops as soon as a bully wants to punch, or the truth of their mother leaving hits them harder. It just added to this feeling that dreams can come true, but we all start in what feels like a dead-end place. Whether it’s our location, family, or something else, everyone has something stopping them, but to see past that and push on is what makes our wishes become our reality.

 

Down to earth and inspiring, Alaska is a Drag has left me with a smile on my face. Not everyone we meet in life will like us, but as long as we hold onto and support the ones that do, life can be good.

The film is available to watch on Netflix. This review is part of my 2021 LGBT+ History Month event, and you can check out my other reviews here on my blog, or see more on my Instagram: anna.create