Bixa Travesty
Wed, Oct 17, 2018 at 9:30pm
Kiko Goifman & Claudia Priscilla; 2018; Brazil; 75 min.; in Portuguese with English subtitles
Passionate, provocative, and extremely unapologetic, Linn da Quebrada electrifies the stage with daring performances of resistance against heteronormativity and machismo—complete with extravagant costumes and lots of twerking. Da Quebrada, a black transwoman (and self-proclaimed bixa travesty, reclaiming the Portuguese for “tranny fag”) uses spoken word, rap, and high-energy dance to explore gender, race, and sexuality in Brazil’s urban slums. Meanwhile, private moments reveal probing conversations with her mother and da Quebrada’s own cancer treatment. Winner of the Teddy Award for Best Documentary at the 2018 Berlin International Film Festival, this dazzling documentary exquisitely illustrates the power of rebellious art and radical honesty.