Summaries

SPLIT is a documentary portrait of International Chrysis, a New York "show girl" and drag queen. Surreal herself, Chrysis was one of Salvador Dali's inner circle, a woman from the waist up, a man from the waist down. The movie penetrates Chrysis' hidden world of transgender women and drag queens, hormones, drugs and prostitution, a dark world she lights up with humor, wit and glamour. Through cross cutting, the documentary reveals the illusion and reality of International Chrysis. She's a burlesque queen who spouts philosophy and performs in a style between vaudeville and Dietrich. Chrysis was a gay man who recreated himself as a Rita Hayworth, Mae West, Barbie doll amalgam. She sang, danced and stripped her way from seedy clubs to glamorous night spots, popped out of cakes toured Europe, and starred on Broadway and in films. The documentary portrays Chrysis' life with the same wit and irreverence she lived it, allowing us to see through the veneer to the pain beneath. Chrysis lived thirty-nine years and died of cancer caused by seepage from the wax and silicon breast implants.

Details

Keywords
  • new york city
  • manhattan new york city
  • drag queen
  • reference to salvador dali
  • studio 54
Genres
  • Biography
  • Documentary
Release date Sep 2, 1993
Motion Picture Rating (MPA) Not Rated
Countries of origin United States
Official sites Director's website
Language English
Production companies Water Bearer Films

Box office

Tech specs

Runtime 58m
Color Color
Sound mix Mono
Aspect ratio 1.37 : 1

Synopsis

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