NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Apologies for the lateness of this review - a number of factors, lockdown notwithstanding, conspired to keep this review held up.

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (June 2020): Criterion have transferred Jennie Livingston's Paris is Burning to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New 2K digital restoration, supervised by director Jennie Livingston". Paris Is Burning was restored by the UCLA Film & Television Archive in conjunction with Sundance Institute and Outfest UCLA Legacy Project. Preservation was funded by Sundance Institute, Outfest, and the Andrew J. Kuehn Jr. Foundation.

"Paris Is Burning" looks positively radiant on Blu-ray from Criterion. We can presume this presentation of the 16mm-shot film, is accurate to the filmmaker's wishes. This is dual-layered with a high bitrate and appears to be a solid representation of the film showing thick grain (true to the 16mm stock used), a relatively high level of detail and rich colors. The documentary is in the 1.33:1 aspect ratio and contrast is admirable, showing a surprising amount of depth, given the film's somewhat low-budget production budget. Fans of this groundbreaking LGBTQ documentary are sure to be glad to have Criterion's new transfer in their hands.

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Paris is Burning has quite the cornucopia of diverse music selections with the Triumphal March from Aida by Giuseppe Verdi as well as music from Loose Joints, Kitarô, Eurythmics, Barry White, Diana Ross, Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin and more. It sounds authentically flat and very clean. Criterion offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Criterion Blu-ray includes a commentary track from 2005 that features director Jennie Livingston, Willi Ninja (mother of the House of Ninja), Freddie Pendavis (House of Pendavis), and editor Jonathan Oppenheim. Up next is a brand new half-hour New conversation between Livingston, ball community members Sol Pendavis + Freddie Pendavis, plus filmmaker Thomas Allen Harris (recorded at the Slipper Room Lower East Side, NYC in late 2019). One of the main attractions to this very loaded set of bonus features is almost 2-hours of never before seen outtakes. A new 10.5 minute interview with LGBT film historian Jenni Olson has the expert weighing in on the film's cultural impact on the greater community, including their own family. "Gisele Xtravaganza" next spends 10 minutes discussing the film. One of my favorite features is an included 44-minute episode of the Joan Rivers show from 1991. This episode features the director Livingston and ball community members Dorian Corey, Pepper LaBeija, Freddie Pendavis, and Ninja. A fundraising trailer is included as well as a theatrical one. Included is a booklet featuring an essay by filmmaker Michelle Parkerson and a 1991 review by poet Essex Hemphill. The cover art is thanks to Eric Skillman (cover photo by Jennie Livingston).

"Paris is Burning" is a very important documentary from director Jennie Livinston. While the film features a wild cast of characters that positively exude confidence and charm, sadly death and tragedy seem to lurk around many corners, occasionally rearing their ugly heads. LGBT issues are addressed within the ball-room scene, as are issues with sex work and living in a city still reeling from many deaths from AIDS. While this might seem like a tough watch to the uninitiated, I think there is a lot of fun to be had here as well.

Colin Zavitz