“Look around. Everywhere you turn is heartache.” That basically sums up the trailer for the new documentary Strike A Pose.
The film, currently making its rounds on the festival circuit, offers a behind-the-scenes peek at Madonna’s behind-the-scenes documentary Truth or Dare, which chronicled the apex of the singer’s world domination.
Strike A Pose, co-directed by Dutch filmmakers Reijer Zwaan and Esther Gould, revisits the surviving members of Madonna’s iconic dance troupe 25 years after the lights went down after the final Blonde Ambition World Tour performance on August 5, 1990 in Nice, France. It shows how, once the tour ended, the singer quickly moved on to her next project and abandoned those in supporting roles, leaving them to process everything that happened on their own. Many of them struggled with their sudden newfound fame, falling into depression, alcoholism, drug addiction and even homelessness.
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The documentary also reveals that three of the dancers were diagnosed with HIV prior to joining the tour, but they kept their conditions a secret, even from Madonna, who has been a longtime vocal advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness. One of them, Gabriel Trupin, would die in 1995.
The remaining dancers have been traveling with the film and speaking about their time with the superstar and recall their sometimes unusual auditions.
“Madonna was like, ‘Hey, nice to meet you; I heard you do this vogue thing, can I see?'” Gutierez, who with Camacho helped introduce the singer to underground dance phenom, told People. “And I’m in my Saturday evening’s best Gaultier outfit, like, ‘I don’t think I want to drag on the floor right now.’ So she made her bodyguard give me his pants while he waited in the VIP bathroom with a towel. We auditioned, and when the club got wind of it, the whole club turned into an audition. She was like, ‘Sit here with me; tell me what you think,’ and we sat on the speaker for an hour or two.”
So far the film is getting mostly positive reviews from viewers and critics alike. It will be released in parts of Europe in May. A U.S. release date has yet to be announced.
Check out the trailer below…
AtticusBennett
must. see. Truth or Dare was a legit touchstone moment for so many gay men of my generation; for most of us, it was the first time we were seeing gay men being unapologetically GAY, and i know for me it was the first time i ever saw two gay men kissing. the moment in the doc where the dancers attend the NYC Pride parade is a truly touching moment. pride fists raised, standing in silence, as this was a time when their friends, our brothers, were dying in record numbers.
stirring stuff, indeed. can’t wait for this one.
DCguy
Some of the stories are heartbreaking. One of the dancers, Slam said he found out at age 18 years before AIDS was somewhat controllable that he was infected. So the guy becomes famous from Truth or Dare, is an international sex symbol in his early 20’s and is dealing with this horrible secret and thinking he is going to die the entire time.
You never know what’s going on in people’s heads.
jr111585
I had no idea about this documentary until now, and it looks so good!! The trailer alone made me feel really sad and nostalgic, but I cannot wait to watch this! Looks like it could be a good one!
dbmcvey
Very cool. I had such a crush on Salim and he’s still gorgeous.
Curtispsf
Twenty six years ago this tour ended. It ended at a time when HIV was doing it’s thing killing our brothers (and sisters) in record numbers. Remarkably, I was left as one of the survivors despite an HIV+ diagnosis in 1980. It’s the job of the survivors to tell the stories, to bear witness to a horrible, horrible time when there was little to no hope. Ring around the rosey, pockets full of posies; Ashes, ashes, all fall down. Except some of us are STILL standing. I look forward to this documentary.
Spike
For once, it’s not about Madonna, hopefully.
magicmike
I loved the original truth or dare but sadly most of the non concert stuff was all set up for the documentary. playing truth or dare. them all on her bed. the neighbor girl who hadn’t seen Madonna in years now Madonna wants to see her? her brother said she only went to her mothers grave because it would be dramatic for the film. nothing madonnna does isn’t calculated and thought out to get as much reaction and press as she can
Mkiel
@Curtispsf: Well done & best wishes for the future.