THE AGGRESSIVES

DANNIEL PEDDLE | USA | 2005 | 72 MIN | ENGLISH

Filmed in NYC between 1997-2003 and delving into its underground lesbian ball scene, The Aggressives went on to become a film festival fave, offering the spotlight to queer people of colour individually and collectively figuring out and asserting the language around their masculine-presenting identity while revelling in their “superstar” confidence. 

Through the 90s’ iconic handheld, in-the-mix style, we follow six swaggering BIPOC New Yorkers who experiment with self-identification: “transgender lesbian” and army recruit Marquise; “femme-aggresive” Tiffany who is attracted to female appearance in all its permutations and “femme-aggressive” model Kisha trying to break into the mainstream; Asian “butch” Flo; “straight up lesbian” Octavia; and “gentle stud” Rjai. These labels shift and evolve as relationships come and go, some enter prison while others achieve personal milestones, and all spout off with absolute frankness about sex, code-switching, and the choices that offer them freedom. Enthralling and brash, Daniel Peddle’s groundbreaking documentary offers insight into one of the subcultures that inspired Beyoncé’s latest sold-out concert and the origins of today’s conversations around gender, and it does so directly from the mouths of the unapologetic trailblazers who paved the way through their openness.