The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

Director: Stephan Elliott

Starring: Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Terence Stamp

Two drag performers and a transgender woman travel across the desert to perform their unique style of cabaret.

If you’re thinking Priscilla is a lady, you’re mistaken. If you’re thinking its a drag queen, you’re also mistaken. Priscilla is actually the name of the bus three gay guys travel in.

The story revolves around three drag queens, Tick (Hugo Weaving), Adam (Guy Pearce) and Bernadette (Terence Stamp) who go on a cross-country journey in a bus to do a drag show at a Hotel Casino Resort. At first glance these three might look like three ordinary drag queens, but as the film develops and we learn more about each character, we discover each of them are fighting their inner demons and there’s more to them than meets the eye.

We see two very different sides of each character throughout the film. There’s the flamboyant, blissful and boisterous side, and then there’s also a much deeper side to them. The actors portrayed these very different personae to perfection. Terence Stamp in particular was excellent.

There’s plenty of laughs and adventure along the way, and a bit of drama as well. The cinematography is absolutely beautiful and the costumes and make-up are simply stunning! The film also has a great soundtrack.

When it comes to gay-themed movies, there really is only a handful I view as masterful, and ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ is one such a movie. This was sensational.

‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ received 30 award nominations, wining 11 including the Oscar for Best Costume Design. Among others, it also won awards for Best Production Design, Best Makeup/Hair, Best Film, and Best Actor (for Terence Stamp).

Would I watch it again? Yes.