Alex Nguyen, a Vietnamese Winnipegger, struggled with his queerness at an early age. His progression into drag queen Ruby Chopstix was fraught with self doubt.
Alex became the first resident drag artist of Winnipeg’s The Rainbow Resource Centre’s “Drag Artist in Residence” supporting drag artists to uplift “a beautiful form of queerness and culture” through a $2,000 stipend to fund living costs, investments in Alex’s art and to create a project to promote drag. In short it promotes the transition of Alex Nguyen into drag performer Ruby Chopstix.
His showcase performance includes his mother and backup dancers.
As for drag you can take it or leave it but whatever “side” you are on Ruby’s determination to advance drag as an inspiration to people to be themselves is notable and Drag Artist in Residence innovative.
The documentary might have warranted further discussion on the hostility displayed by some to drag performances and how Drag Artist in Residence was founded and financially supported.
There was brief Pansy Craze in New York, London, Paris, Berlin and San Francisco in the late twenties and early thirties weakened in part by the Roman Catholic church attacking it. Who is currently attacking drag art and their rationale for doing so would have added a little more depth to this documentary.
Directed by Quan Luong and part of Hot Docs Citizen Minutes screening on 30April2025.
RKS CANADIAN Documentary Rating 71/100.
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 