The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (M) PRESENTED IN 35MM FILM

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (M, 1994) Presented in 35mm Film by The Revival House Perth

Two drag queens—the glamorous Mitzi (Guy Pearce) and the more subdued Felicia (Guy Pearce's co-star, Terence Stamp)—and a transgender woman named Bernadette (Hugo Weaving) embark on a cross-country road trip across the Australian Outback in a converted tour bus they've nicknamed Priscilla. The unlikely trio is traveling from Sydney to Alice Springs to perform at a casino gig, but their journey becomes about far more than reaching their destination. As they drive through the vast, largely conservative heartland of Australia in full drag, they face hostility from small-town locals, mechanical breakdowns, and their own personal demons. Bernadette struggles with the loss of her son and her estrangement from her family; Mitzi seeks revenge on the ex-lover who abandoned her; and Felicia navigates her identity as a transgender woman in a world that refuses to accept her. Through adventure, humor, and genuine tenderness, these three misfits become family to each other.

Director Stephan Elliott crafts a vibrant, visually spectacular road movie that celebrates identity, acceptance, and found family. The 1994 film is gorgeously photographed—the Australian Outback rendered in saturated colors and stunning vistas that contrast with the characters' elaborate costumes and makeup. Guy Pearce, Terence Stamp, and Hugo Weaving create fully realized characters whose humor masks genuine pain and vulnerability. The film balances comedy—the absurdity of drag queens traversing conservative Australian towns—with moments of profound emotional authenticity, particularly in Bernadette's storyline about motherhood and loss. The costumes and production design are spectacular, celebrating drag as high art and self-expression. The soundtrack, featuring Abba, provides both comedy and catharsis. The film refuses to sentimentalize its characters or their struggles, instead showing how marginalized people support each other through humor and solidarity. It's a love letter to outcasts and a celebration of the chosen families we build.

Original format and audio experience of this film faithfully reproduced by The Revival House. Presented in 35mm film unless noted otherwise.

When: Saturday, July 18th at 7:20PM
Where: The Revival House at the Como Theatre
Rating: M (Medium level coarse language, Sexual references)