I saw this wonderful movie years ago and yesterday I got a s gift the DVD. I loved it then and I loved it now.
The plot is fairly easy: Two drag queens and a transsexual get a cabaret gig in the middle of the desert and travel from Sydney to Alice Spring. On their journey they collide with small town citizens, aborigines and tourists.
Is this just one of these a typical gay movies? Gays in drag and a lot of hilarious scenes? Yes and NO at the same time.
Yes because you have all these stereotypes and typical hilarious scene. First one thinks that is properly all. But as the bus tour gets under way and the 3 guys travel through the desert one gets to learn more and more about them, learns about the past, their experiences as gays and drag queens, their hopes, their traumas. Steps by step one learns that under all the make-up, mascarra and fake coolness that are presented to the out-side world one finds nice and decent guys.
Maybe all this is portrait in such a great way because the three principal actors are straight, but are able to create sympathetic gays with characters
Hugo Weaving (better known for his part as Agent Smith in the "Matrix" movies and "The Lord of the Rings") plays the most "straight" part, Tick, who has a ex-wife and a little son. A father in drag? His fear how the son would react to it. Great acting when he had to confront his fears, his son and ..... no watch it how it is solved.
Guy Pearce as Adam is the most "gay" in the sense of being the most outrageous. He portraits the most of the well known clichès. But he is able to bring enormous depth and insight into his part.
My favorite is nevertheless Terence Stamp (yes, I do mean HIM!) as the transsexual Bernadette. Dignity, a great sense of humor, depth of experience and hurt, but strong come mind seeing his acting - absolutely believable. His love story with a mechanic is wonderfully touching!
and above all: great songs and music.
I loved particuarly the scene with the aborigines.
All your senses will be touched.
5 stars are simply not enough!
