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National Film and Sound Archive of AustraliaNational Film and Sound Archive
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
National Film and Sound Archive
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
National Film and Sound Archive

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Mamma Mia

1994

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Mamma Mia

1994

  • NFSA IDG953QA4S
  • TypeFilm
  • MediumMoving Image
  • FormFeature Film
  • Duration1 hr, 42 mins
  • GenresLGBTQI, Comedy
  • Year1994

It’s a lot of sequins, sparkles and, of course, drag in impressive outback scenery, but The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert also gives us some serious soul-searching, predominantly from ‘Tick’ Belrose (Hugo Weaving), a divorcée drag queen trying to navigate fatherhood with a kid he’s not seen for years.

While he may not have been a traditional father in many senses, Tick tortures himself as he attempts to get to know his son Benji (Mark Holmes). Worried that Benji won’t accept him for being gay, he endeavours to show a more ‘manly’ version of himself, rocking up dressed in khakis and brandishing a tinny – more dag than drag – before Benji assures him he supports his lifestyle.

In this clip, Tick (as Mitzi) is back in full drag, embracing the full disco dagginess of ABBA's 'Mamma Mia', and Benji is loving it, working the spotlight like a pro to show off his father in all his sequinned glory. The clip, filmed at Sydney’s iconic Imperial Hotel, is filled with classic drag-show joy – complete with a screaming crowd, glitter guns and some sauced-up ABBA choreography that gives Dad-dancing a whole new spin.

It’s a lot of sequins, sparkles and, of course, drag in impressive outback scenery, but The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert also gives us some serious soul-searching, predominantly from ‘Tick’ Belrose (Hugo Weaving), a divorcée drag queen trying to navigate fatherhood with a kid he’s not seen for years.

While he may not have been a traditional father in many senses, Tick tortures himself as he attempts to get to know his son Benji (Mark Holmes). Worried that Benji won’t accept him for being gay, he endeavours to show a more ‘manly’ version of himself, rocking up dressed in khakis and brandishing a tinny – more dag than drag – before Benji assures him he supports his lifestyle.

In this clip, Tick (as Mitzi) is back in full drag, embracing the full disco dagginess of ABBA's 'Mamma Mia', and Benji is loving it, working the spotlight like a pro to show off his father in all his sequinned glory. The clip, filmed at Sydney’s iconic Imperial Hotel, is filled with classic drag-show joy – complete with a screaming crowd, glitter guns and some sauced-up ABBA choreography that gives Dad-dancing a whole new spin.

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