The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson

A triangular shaped metal sign on a pole near where Marsha Johnson's body was found is titled Queer Spaces and explains who she was and how she died. This sign says a lot about this film--spaces. So many spaces exist where we learn nothing about Marsha's life or spaces where files about her case have gone missing, spaces where we get a glimpse of a person's life in her 20's and then only a glimpse again when she is in much older (true of Sylvia, Victoria, and many others).

The compelling aspect of this documentary is the character study of the unflappable Victoria in her investigation and Sylvia Riviera, who hits the bottom and comes back to be a great activist. Both are more interesting than Marsha herself--at least what we learn of Marsha in this film. The scenes where Victoria shows us photos of herself when she was young on stage and Sylvia getting a job at a church are wonderful.

One big space is the lack of resources put into investigating the violence against trans-gendered people--Victoria's boss notes this toward the end. The spaces are the questions always left unanswered when someone dies without reason.

Basically, the movie's title is misleading. It's not really about Marsha, though she is a part of the larger story. It's about being trans-gendered in New York and how this has changed and not changed in the last 50 years.

Every young LGBTQ+ person should watch this. A great documentary about a strong woman.

It took me awhile to get around to watching this documentary but when I did, it was incredibly worth it. I re-watch it on occasion, because something about this documentary pulls me in.

The documentary follows Victoria Cruz as she tries to follow the trail of the cold case surrounding the death of well know trans activist Marsha P. Johnson. Beyond this base story, we see much more though. I feel the documentary comunicates several important things. It educates, about her, the woman we love, Marsha, it gives us a glimpse into the history of trans rights and queer activism, it tells us of the issues trans activists and trans people still faces today, but it also, in many senses, the documentary offers a ray of light, hope, maybe, by showing us as a community how far we have come.

In conclusion, one of my number one pride month movies!

10/13/17. A somewhat scattered documentary about the life and death of a transgender person named Marsha P. Johnson in NYC. Not sure if this really gets down to the allegations that s/he was murdered or the motives as to why anyone who do her in. It's a murder mystery that remains a mystery.

I was originally going to say that this should be required viewing for young LGBTQ people, in order for them to have a better understanding of our history. But correct that to say that EVERYONE should watch this in order to better understand a segment of our society that has been brutally mistreated since...well, since forever.

I lived in New York and came out (finally, at age 30) the same week that Marsha was murdered, in July 1992. I can't believe I don't remember this happening. :-(

While this film isn't perfect, it tells an important story and the other people involved (Silvia, Victoria, etc.) are as compelling and worth knowing about as Marsha was. The details of their lives and experiences are compelling.

I'm only sorry I'm discovering all this lo these many years later.