Director’s Word – Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
The last few years have been full of worry, uncertainty, frustration and sadness. Unfortunately, it is very likely that the coming years will still contain all of this, but it is high time to find reasons for joy, love, happiness and fun. Even though life is at its best with all the spices, joy and fun are easily buried under many worries.
However, the opportunity to have fun is not self-evident for everyone. There are many countries in the world where a same-sex couple does not dare (or is not allowed) to go out and spend a romantic evening together. Many countries where children do not dare to play outside because of the threat of violence. These are just a few examples of the lack of opportunities for fun.
Once again, prejudices and attitudes are a big factor in other people’s malaise. Prejudices and attitudes that are learned from others, often parents. Sexual and gender minorities have been the target of these kinds of attitudes, and even today, many have to be careful about their words, clothing, self-expression or expressions of love.
Pride, or gay pride, refers to a global movement and philosophy according to which sexual and gender minorities can be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity. The Pride movement defends the work done for the equal rights and interests of sexual and gender minorities. Pride means pride. The opposite of that is shame. For years, even today, many people are ashamed of themselves and why they identify themselves. Shame refers to a negative emotion that results from a reprehensible act or an experience of inadequacy or inferiority. Let that sentence descend into your consciousness. If a person constantly feels inferior, inadequate, or especially carries out reprehensible actions by being themselves, it is no wonder that unhappiness can be found among minorities.
Personally, I have learned from many of my colleagues and friends that it is not worth dwelling on the shortcomings of life – in the end, you determine your own path in life and how you walk it. Priscilla’s three point of view characters represent each other’s opposites in many ways, and at the same time, they share many of the same traits. They represent different generations, personalities, styles, and worldviews. When they are put on an unexpected journey through the desert that lasts more than two weeks, they inevitably learn new things about each other and about life.
So is it the case that everyone should spend time in the desert with strangers, or at least different people? In this way, prejudices and attitudes could slowly begin to break down, and be shaped towards a world where so many people would not have to experience shame about what they represent or what they are.
Tonight, Priscilla – Queen of the Desert will take you on a journey that will help you look at the world from new perspectives and forget about worries and worries for just one night.
Instructor
Samuel Harjanne