CFDBNYC Out and About

PeachesGoesBananas
We got to watch the documentary Peaches Goes Bananas which is the second documentary on the trailblazing queer icon, Peaches this year. The first one titled Teaches of Peaches was focused on her tour centered around her landmark album “Teaches Of Peaches”. This documentary directed by legendary award winning documentarian Marie Losier sees Peaches in her most vulnerable state. Each phase that we watch was a glimpse into the reason behind the music. The film starts with a concert where you see flying projectile of genitalia from the crowd and vice versa however Peaches winds down and realizes she’s not a young woman anymore so she tries to rest. This is one of the themes that the film address along with her music: ageism. Age is prominent in the film when Peaches realizes she slowed down on touring and going after shows. Another theme in the film is her relationship with her sister with Multiple Sclerosis. Throughout the film you watch Peaches bounces back and forth between her public persona to her private life with her sister where she helps the aide with everything her sister needs. It’s a emotional piece where you see that musicians even those who always working on their music are always around for their loved ones no matter the distance. Losier was close enough to capture Peaches in her quiet moments and the film shows how despite her travels she still thinks about her journey from teaching to music. The inspiration that move her to her calling is another piece of the film that’s great. It’s because the flashbacks of her earlier years highlights her reasoning into her art. Peaches Goes Bananas is a in depth conversation with two people chronicling one’s journey from young to old and the in between is a graffiti stained bridge between the two. The documentary works best when Peaches is off stage and being a great girlfriend and caring family member which shows who she is behind the costumes. The concert footage is great too but can be a bit overwhelming with everything happening simultaneously. The flashbacks to her childhood and early jobs are great pieces to connect to her present. The home life scenes are also great too. It is also carefully edited to help the audience guide through Peaches life and not be confused or lost. Marie Losier crafted this film to highlight the history of the brand that is Peaches but also why she’s been around for 30 years. Another flashpoint is her practicing Opera where she breaks boundaries playing the lead which would go to men. Her approach is so intricate due to her attention to detail which highlights the ageism theme where she’s never too old to try something different. Overall this is a great art piece that highlight the subject well and doesn’t have you drown in self centered celebration. Peaches is a musician where this documentary reminds us that artists are not just human but always pushing boundaries while being a regular person. Great work by Losier.