Queerguru reviews ENIGMA : the very different stories of trans pioneers APRIL ASHLEY + AMANDA LEAR

In 2012, a year after her death at the age of 86, Channel 4 (in the UK) screened a near-perfect documentary, The Extraordinary Live of April Ashley.  Ms. Ashley was a charismatic trans pioneer who transformed herself from a working-class seaman to a glamorous model/society lady who tout London (especially the gay community) fell head over heels in love with. Now, she is being honored again in a brand new film ENIGMA made by the trans filmmaker Zachary Drucker, who, in this documentary, has paired April’s life story with that of French pop singer/model Amanda Lear.  By the end of this 95min film from HBO, you eventually realize why Drucker chose to show both of these women’s lives side by side, but whilst it serves to show April as the most courageous and honest woman, Amanda paints herself as someone still in total denial of her life story even when she is presented with indisputable facts of her reality 

The timing of the film could not be more perfect in this present dangerous political climate which is seeking to actually destroy our trans community, but Enigma reminds us that despite all the rhetoric, being trans is not a new phenomeon it has a history we can be proud of.  Unless of course you are Amanda Lear. 

Drucker made great use of some wonderful vintage film footage like friom the 1950’s when April made her way to Paris and got herself a job at the legendary Le Carrousel de Paris.  This was a Parisian cabaret world famous for its revues of cross-dressing and trans performers such as Coccinelle and Bambi (whose own life story was told in a Teddy Award winnig film by Sebastian Lifschitz).  Also in the cast was Peki d’Oslo who according to the world was the future Amanda Lear ….. except she vehemently denies it.

Drucker sits down for a lengthy face to face interview with Ms Lear who, according to Wikipedia, was born sometime  between 18 June or 18 November 1939–1950 (!) and she vehemently refutes any claims made by others about her life. Whilst one can understand that she was born in an era when men wearing clothes in the street was illegal, it is difficult to comprehend why she still maintains she was born female.  What is unacceptable however is how part of her rhetoric turns into mean-spirited and somewhat viscous remarks she makes that are unprovoked insults about April. 

Although April’s story is well known to this Uk writer, there were still some new facts revealed.  April’s marriage to a member if the Englsh aristocracy has been well documented by the UK tabloid press. It made all the headlines  when the marriage failed and he didn’t just sue for divorce  but also for an annulment claiming April was abiological man. We leant two new important facts. Firstly the husband was a cross dresser so not totally ‘straght’  plus also according to Court records the ‘experts’ in the case were about to side with April but the Judge sent them away  again to rethink their decision  i.e. so he could rule against her .

I will admit that I haver always been in awe of April, and I think I first dined in her restaurant AD in London after I had just come out as gay. I sat there fixated as she glided around the room talking to guests at all the tables. 

Queer history is an important issue/topic for Queerguru, and it is so good to have April Ashley honored in this way.   

Review by ROGER WALKER-DACK.

Creator, Owner, Editor-in-Chief.  Miami Beach, FL / Provincetown, MA

Member of G.A.L.E.C.A. (Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association) and NLGJA The Association of LGBT Journalists. and The Online Film Critics Society. Ex Contributing Editor The Gay Uk & Contributor Edge Media Former CEO and Menswear Designer of  Roger Dack Ltd in the UK ‘one of the hardest-working journalists in the business‘ Micheal Goff of Towleroad