Burlesque Undressed
Produced by and starring Immodesty Blaize, Britain’s burlesque queen, this well-made documentary offers a thorough look at the dance-form’s resurgent popularity. Combining extended footage from Blaize’s hugely popular Tease Show and interviews with burlesque stars old and new — the stand-out being Satan’s Angel, all smoky Bacall tones and sassy humour — there is much to enjoy here.
– Liz Beardsworth, Empire
Anyone paying a wee bit of attention to pop culture over the past few years can’t have helped but notice the renaissance of burlesque: the slinky demi-monde of fascinators and feather fans, tassels and teases has taken a brand of cheesecake glamour from retro-scene niche into the heart of the mainstream (see Kylie, Christina et al). Fronted by one of the neo-burlesque scene’s biggest stars, Immodesty Blaize, this doc offers a survey of the form’s history, conventions and current revival: there’s historical context from academics, ribald anecdotage from mid-century American veterans such as Satan’s Angel and Lily Anne Rose and testimony from current stars like Dirty Martini and Kitten De Ville about performer camaraderie, intensive production work and the uses of tradition.
– Ben Walters, Time Out London
Duration: 88 min
Dialogue: English
Age limit: K15
