The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson

From the director of the quite extraordinarily brilliant How To Survive A Plague comes this film.

Marsha P Johnson was a black transvestite/drag queen (there was no 'transgender' then) who hung around Christopher Street in the 60s until her mysterious death when she was pulled out of the Hudson River in the early 90s. As we hear from one person captured on video back then who witnessed her body being recovered there appears to have been some kind of wound on her head. Could there be more to Marsha's death than just the officially held cause being accidental? Was it suicide or homicide?

David France expertly tracks the work of Victoria Cruz in unearthing and unravelling what happened to Marsha whilst celebrating this revolutionaries life. Moments of this documentary are sometimes very shocking. One such is when Ms Cruz telephones a retired member of the NYPD who she asks to meet to discuss the circumstances surrounding Johnson's death. 'Definitely not' he responds to her meeting request. He then warns her 'Don't go playing detective'. Sinister.

This film feels like new unexplored relics and answers from LGBT history being unveiled right before your eyes.

However, there are politics at play regarding the film. Some members of the non-white trans movement are slamming France's work as hes a white cisgender (non-trans) man who is making this film rather than a trans person of colour. There have been accusations of theft of material from another project that was being made by the trans community regarding Johnson. There are also accusations that David France could get funding and distribution because hes white and cisgender. I think these accusations are just a case of sour grapes. If you are a filmmaker who has made films before, have a proven track record and can actually accomplish these projects through to fruition then you will get funding and distribution. How long have we been waiting for the fictionalised short film Happy Birthday, Marsha? I'm amused that its fictionalised- so was Stonewall in 2015. Lets see if there are protests regarding this new film if events are seen to be historically accurate.

Also, does it matter whether the person making the film is trans or cisgender or what their ethnicity is when the film they make is as great as this?

There seems to be a huge emphasis on Marsha and Sylvia Rivera when it comes to LGBT history and the Stonewall Riots. But when anyone else is represented they are lumped together and not given the same kind of detailed analysis or be the centre of attention. I'd love a similar documentary on Danny Garvin, Martin Boyce or the person widely believed to have started the riots- Jackie Hormona (Marsha P Johnson admitted in an interview that when she arrived at the Stonewall Inn on that fateful night in 1969 that the rioting had already started. The interview is here- makinggayhistory.com/podcast/episode-11-johnson-wicker/ She dashed off to Bryant Park to tell Sylvia Rivera who had taken heroin). You don't know who Garvin, Boyce or Garvin are? Thats very telling.

A great documentary. Now lets hear about other Stonewall voices.

This film is an excellent example of the Documentary genre. Expertly researched and edited to allow viewers not familiar with the material to engage with a true story easily and compassionately. It has moments of mystery and a sense of a thriller and ultimately is a simple tale of a legendary activist who fought for truth and justice in a time where the LGBTQ community were only just showing their collective voice.

The death of Marsha P. Johnson was a turning point in holding police and their political string-pullers to account and the rare film clips of Marsha and her friends give the film an extra layer of engagement.

It's not hysterical. It's not over-done. It's not a film that can be dismissed. In its gently unfolding way it tells the story of this incredible personality of the Stonewall Riots.

Highly recommended for all audiences.

Wow.. this documentary is beautiful! So much to learn for people that would open their eyes and heart and be human(e). What I saw mostly was the fight against injustice in many ways, and the almost saint-like Marsha that shared so much of herself. It's always people with the least privilege that share the most. I found that part when Sylvia took the stage very powerful, and speech she gave and the reaction that it got showed the hypocrisy of many (gay people) in the white middle class and up that just took what they wanted and moved on leaving the others in the dirt. The people doing real work in the trenches almost never get their shine.. Later on, the times we live in now.. people jump on a bandwagon and think they are holy for adopting a mind-state that seems to portray open mindedness, but it doesn't. We need to stop worshiping celebs and give props to those that are not super-visible..try and recognise them, they are seldom seen and at the same time they are there...Mostly they are not shiny, not superclean, they are scarred and broken from lifting so much weight. See them. Strong documentary.

Very painful to see how much Sylvia has struggled. Beautiful to see how Marsha shared her light. I love it when a documentary sheds light on people that are unseen, people that fought justice and gave love where there was so much darkness and hate.

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!

It's heartwarming and devastating at the same time. It's a bit slow and it should be better edited, but it's an enormous lesson on empathy for us cisgender people with a roof above our heads to learn.