-Written by Marty Coney.
Queendom is a documentary by Agniia Galdanova and follows a 21-year-old non-binary performance artist named Gennadiy (Gena Marvin) in Russia. Gena is an orphan who lives in a rural town called Magadan with their grandparents but dreams of something bigger in their life and moves to Moscow to study costume design.
Queendom is a thought provoking look into the life of someone from the lgbt community in Russia where that way of life can be life threatening. It's a really difficult documentary to watch as you see the daily abuse and visceral anger people have towards Gena. Even their grandparents who love them, hate how they live their life and put them down and belittle them constantly.
Undeterred by the constant stream of abuse and violence, Gena dreams of being a costume designer and performance artist. The costumes they make are fantastic and otherworldly like something you would see in a space fantasy movie, but they land them in trouble with school and they end up getting expelled. It doesn’t stop Gena from being themselves. Sprinkled throughout Queendom are a few of Gena’s performances and dance routines, and while I don't know anything about performance art I can appreciate the work that went into making the costumes and putting a routine together in a costume.
After getting expelled from school, and with no money Gena is forced to move back home to their grandparents house, where arguments and derogatory names are constant. Getting drafted into the army is a real possibility as the war in Ukraine is just about to start but a model shoot could change Gena’s life if everything goes well.
Gena is picked to perform at a fashion show and you get to see a real spark in their eyes. The dream is now a reality and they can be the person they are with people who accept them for who they are. You get the sense that life is maybe starting to change for Gena but one protest against the war in Ukraine is enough to land Gena in trouble with the police, and now getting drafted into the military is becoming more possible than ever.
Protests erupt on the streets of Russia over the war in Ukraine and time is running out for Gena; they need to flee the country. Desperate and scared, Gena tries to get a residency visa for Paris where they will be able to live a life free of persecution and fear, a life where they are no longer afraid to wear heels or a skirt in public.
Queendom is a beautifully shot documentary with fantastic costumes and gorgeous locations. It's heartbreaking to see someone struggle just to be who they are. With only a few people who understand them and accept them for who they are. But it also shows someone who isn't afraid to be who they are no matter what the consequences will be. And by not bending to society's norms you can be the person you were meant to be.
Directed by Agniia Galdanova.
Starring Gena Marvin.
7/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE
