The Cockettes

With interviews, origi nal footage and photos, the creators behind this documentary, David Weissman and Bill Weber, tell the fascinating story of The Cockettes, a San Franciscobased hippie-drag-performance group during the late 60's and early 70's. Together with its founder, George ''Hibiscus'' Harris - a ''Jesus Christ with lipstick'' - the group went its own experimenting way to entertain both its own members as well as others. The Cockettes put up several shows with names like ''linsel Tarts in a Hot Coma'' and ''A Crab on Uranus Means You're Loved''. King of bad taste, director John Waters, turns out to be a huge fan of The Cockettes and he appears a couple of times in the film. The Cockettes is an exuberant chaos of colours, make-up, half-naked people performing, glitter, drugs, dreams, rebellious sexuality and art, cut in a brilliant way. The silent film-inspired opening credits are an amusing effect and perhaps a symbol for the group's interest in the 20's. This is a tribute not only to The Cockettes but also to the hippie culture. Caroline Aflalo