Lavender Men

Directed by Lovell Holder

Screenplay by Roger Q. Mason & Lovell Holder

Based on the stage play by Roger Q. Mason

OutSouth Queer Film Fest at Carolina Theatre 309 W Morgan Street, Durham, NC 27701

Lavender Men is the film adaptation of the play by the same name which was written and performed by the uber talented Roger Q. Mason, whose pronouns are they/them/theirs. I fell in love with Roger’s character Taffeta, whose pronouns are she/her. Taffeta’s unique blend of confidence and insecurity is giving me Cam from Modern Family vibes if Cam were a beautiful Black, Filipinx, gender non-conforming stage manager for a boring-ass Abraham Lincoln play.

Taffeta, our perfectly arched eyebrowed protagonist, decides to create a historical “fantasia” that takes us on a revisionist journey of the unrequited love stories of Lincoln (played by Pete Ploszek-YOU on Netflix), his law clerk Elmer E. Ellsworth (played by Alex Esola -TANKHOUSE on Prime) and Taffeta with regards to her own crush. Taffeta’s magical version of the play within a play, touches on the politics of race, rights and relationships during the Civil War. This film motivated me to google some facts about Lincoln and the term Lavender Men that I did not know.

Taffeta’s colorful costumes during the fantasy sequences are simply divine and her humor, songs and dance numbers make the film a delight!

I attended the World Premiere of “Lavender Men” at the OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival at the Carolina Theatre in Downtown Durham, NC. If you are in the area, the next viewing is Thursday, Aug 15, 2024 at 9:10pm

Otherwise, remember the name as this film will be in other film festivals and on somebody’s streaming somewhere soon as it is too good not to share.

For more information on the film and to purchase tickets please visit https://carolinatheatre.org/festival/outsouth/. Instagram: @lavendermenfilm

Reviewed by Elizabeth June

IG: nnnjunejaja

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