From the catalogue:
Thought-provoking and intelligent, this poetic documentary dissects
gender identity by aiming its lens at an electrifying individual who is
a successful businesswoman by day and a popular drag performer by night.
Set against the avant-garde backdrop of Berlin, Risk, Stretch or Die
is a compelling look into the fascinating life of gender-bending, famed
French drag king Océan LeRoy. Transgender identified, Océan refuses to
abide strictly by a male or female label. During business hours, the
dual-natured dynamo manages a media and technology consulting firm as a
woman, finding it easier to play by the rules of business in this
prescribed role. But when night arrives, the chameleon emerges full
tilt as a suave and dapper male. Hitting the stage as a man and a
woman, the innovative entertainer performs a broad range of
passion-charged numbers, from George Michael’s “Faith” to hardcore punk
rock loaded with political statements, often pushing the audience
outside their comfort zone. This documentary is not merely about a drag
king; it delves deeply into a different and more fluid perspective that
shatters conventional notions of gender. Told in a lyrical tone with a
keen visual eye, director Saskia Heyden unveils the core of this
fascinating figure and beautifully captures an androgynous person who
outwardly defies masculine and feminine constraints. (German, English
and French with English subtitles) -- Kelly Burkhardt
