San Francisco in 1969 was the birthplace of The Cockettes, a midnight dance ensemble that was an interesting side effect of the psychedelic counterculture and the sexual revolution. Men, women and children expressed their sexual and cultural freedom in a chaotic, drug-ridden drag show. Ah, the good ol' days.
David Weissman, award-winning independent filmmaker, captures the essence of this flamboyant group in a documentary, "The Cockettes," which is being shown to UA media arts students, but is open to everyone tomorrow. This showing includes a lecture and discussion given by Weissman himself. He is coming as part of the Visiting Filmmakers Program, sponsored by four groups, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Studies.
"A lot of people have said that ("The Cockettes") is the first really evocative movie about the hippie culture. There haven't been a lot of movies dealing with San Francisco in this time period, and it was such a powerful moment," Weissman said.
"It's about being young and being rebellious in a place that encouraged that ÷ more than almost any place ever."
"The Cockettes" was nominated for Best Documentary of the Year in the 2002 Independent Spirit Awards and won Best Documentary of the Year from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association in 2002.
"Well, from the press we've gotten just phenomenal reviews all over the country, and it plays all the time on the Sundance Channel. It seems to have a tremendously positive word of mouth. So, it has a continually growing audience because I think the subject matter speaks to a lot of people," Weissman said.
A historical documentary is the medium through which Weissman was able to find his audience for this unique subject matter.
"I wanted to make a movie that would capture the time period for the people who lived through it. (This period) has really been demonized by the right wing and reduced to clichŽs by the media," Weissman said. "I also wanted to do the same thing for the people who only know it through those clichŽs and through the perspective of people who hate the '60s."
The '60s saw a shift in politics and civil rights, but also in sexuality. People, like The Cockettes, who were part of the sexual revolution, had a strong influence on theater, music, fashion, gay politics and spirituality. They are not acknowledged as having such an influence, but films like Weissman's serve as reminders.
"Without The Cockettes, this corner of history would otherwise be forgotten ÷ the acid freak, hippie drag-queen corner," said Barbara Seckinger, associate professor of media arts.
The end result of all of Weissman's hard work is a highly acclaimed film that gives meaning and dignity to a unique form of expression that is still stigmatized in American society. It gives a voice to people who have lost theirs through the increasingly conservative social framework.
"I hope that the movie serves as a reminder that the biggest limitations on what you do are in the boundaries of your own imagination." Weissman said.