Film Lens
The Aggressives is a 2005 documentary directed by Daniel Peddle that focuses on the lives of six masculine presenting queer people of color in New York City. Filmed over five years, the documentary captures their experiences, dreams, and fears, addressing themes of gender, sexuality, race, and class. The subjects include Marquise, a trans man preparing for military service, Kisha, a model navigating androgyny, and Octavia, who deals with the complexities of motherhood and prison life.
The film presents the subjects' responses to the question, 'What does being an Aggressive mean to you?' Their answers reflect the nuances of masculine-presenting identities and the societal expectations surrounding gender expression. The documentary also examines the relationships between the subjects and their mothers, revealing a spectrum of acceptance and disapproval. The film received critical acclaim, with a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes as of 2024, and won multiple awards at film festivals.
Why Watch
- •Meet Marquise, a trans man navigating military life.
- •Follow Kisha's transformation in the modeling world.
- •Discover Octavia's story of motherhood and prison.
Did You Know
•The documentary was filmed over five years starting in 1999.
•Marquise could not be found by the time the film was released in 2005.
•The film won Best Documentary at the 2005 Rhode Island International Film Festival.
•Flo is influenced by the Queer Black and Latino ball scene and often judges at balls.
Perfect For
LGBTQIA+ representationGender identity studiesBall culture enthusiasts