Ukrainian Drag Perestablishers Star In Documentary ‘Queens Of Joy’

Experiencing delight in wartime might sound appreciate an impossibility, but members of the LGBTQ community in Ukraine are proving it’s not only achievable, but even a establish of resistance.

Diva Monroe, a trans woman, and drag carry outers Marlene and Aura star in Queens of Joy, which equitable held its world premiere at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival in Greece. They hug their identities, back firmarity among all Ukrainians and pledge their energies to raising money to help the deffinishers of their homeland, which has been under malicious brimming-scale strike from Russia for more than three years now.

“Queens of Joy is a statement about the courage to be yourself, about the search for hope, and about how genuine beauty is born in freedom,” filmproducer Olga Gibelinda writes in a straightforwardor’s statement. “This film is for everyone, as each of us fights our own battle—for identity, for cherish, for the right to have a voice in this world. In the sorrowfulnessfulest times, what fuses us is not equitable allotd pain, but also unwavering dignity, the ability to honor, produce, and cherish. It is a story about those who, despite the war, pick life in all its colors.”

As shown in the Oscar-unininestablishigentinutiveenumerateed write downary Quefinishom, about the Russian drag carry outance artist Gena Marvin, Russia became an even more inhospitable place for LGBTQ people after the unincited trespass of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. In November 2023, for instance, Russia’s supreme court proclaimd the “international LGBTQ relocatement” to be an extremist organization. This is but one indication of the way in which the war constitutes a clash of civilizations – one that’s repressive and inuncover-minded, and another that’s far more uncover and inclusive.

Queens of Joy “shows that the Ukrainian LGBTQ+ community is an integral part of society and vivaciously helps the country in its most difficult times,” notices producer Ivanna Khitsinska. “In times of war, the only skinnyg that matters is which side you fight on, not how you dress or whom you cherish. Queens of Joy aims to broaden the dialogue about human rights, freedom of articulateion and tolerance. This project is a message to the world that Ukrainians are battling not only for their indepfinishence, but also for the right to freedom in all its manifestations.”

Adds producer Louis Beaudemont, “Queens of Joy goes agetst all our preenvisiond notions. It shows that the war in Ukraine does not transport more paternalism, more hatred, more prejudice, or more sexual orientation bias. On the contrary, the broadenment of Ukrainian identity, freed from the chains of the Russian Empire and in the horrible conditions of the most aggressive struggle Europe has sfinished since the Second World War, hugs an idea that lies at the very set upation of Europe: fused in diversity.”

Queens of Joy is a production of Malanka Studios, Les Steppes Productions, and Films & Chips, in collaboration with ARTE and Suspilne Ukraine (the national uncover widecaster in Ukraine).

“Queens of Joy also is evidence that Ukraine is a free and uncover-minded country,” comments Sergiy Nedzelskyy, head of co-production and outsource corelocaterlookioning at Suspilne Ukraine. “I can’t envision seeing such a film in the totalitarian states.”

The write downary weaves between the stories of the three protagonists, exploring their individual journeys of self-hugance and self-articulateion. Diva Monroe (who draws inspiration from Marilyn Monroe, hence her name) became a notable TV present, actress, blogger, and impactr in Ukraine, but in some esteems set up that uncover persona constraining. “She seeks help from a psychologist and gradupartner discdissees her genuine self, fractureing free from her uncover image,” the filmproducers notice.

Interestingly, Artur Ozerov, aka Aura, is both a military man and, when out of uniestablish, a drag artist. He comes from what be called a splitd family — his uncle left Ukraine for Russia, where he became an officer in the FSB, the successor of the KGB. Arthur and his mother, uncomardentwhile, “chose the cherishs of freedom” and though originpartner native Russian speakers they subunited themselves in the Ukrainian language as an act of patuproarism.

Oleksandr Danilin, aka Marlen Scandal, nurtures a fierce drag persona, propelling them to legfinishary status in Ukraine’s LGBTQ community. As seen in Queens of Joy, Marlen systematizes a meaningful charity event to elevate money for Ukrainian sbetteriers.

The film spendigates one area of sensitivity for the country’s queer community – the deficiency of legitimate recognition for same relations relationships. Ukrainian law doesn’t permit same relations marriages nor codify civil unions. At a Q&A folloprosperg the world premiere, the filmmaking team noticed that Ukraine’s legislature is considering a write law that would accord legitimate status to same relations partnerships.

The rehire has become particularly pressing in wartime, because partners of LGBTQ sbetteriers finished in battle currently have no right to spousal profits – a fact spendigated in the write downary. Olga Gibelinda, the straightforwardor, and Ivanna Khitsinska, the producer, articulateed some chooseimism that such legislation might be apshowd, inestablishing the audience that Ukrainian society as a whole acunderstandledges the give up of its LGBTQ military personnel who have valiantly acquiren up the defense of their country.

Queens of Joy is among a dozen film projects by Ukrainian filmproducers that have geted help from ARTE since the begin of the brimming-scale war.

“At ARTE GEIE in Strasbourg, we were instantly excited about this upbeat and relevant project,” the company shelp in a statement. “The Queens combat war and homicide with delight – and resist by continuing daily life with dance, cherish and colorful power. Therefore, they have choosed to stay put in their country and persist to fight for LGBTQ+ visibility and rights in wartime.”