The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson

2017 | USA | 107 min

ABOUT THE FILM

LONG SYNOPSIS

Who killed Marsha P. Johnson? When the beloved, self-described “street queen” of NY’s Christopher Street was found floating in the Hudson River in 1992, the NYPD called her death a suicide. Protests erupted but the police remained impassive and refused to investigate. Now, twenty-five years on, Academy Award® nominated director and journalist David France (How to Survive a Plague) examines Marsha’s death—and her extraordinary life—in his new film.

Marsha arrived in the Village in the 1960s where she teamed up with Sylvia Rivera when both claimed their identities as “Drag Queens,” to use the vernacular of the times. Together, the radical duo fought arrests, condemned police brutality, organized street kids, battled the intolerant majority within the gay community, and helped spearhead the Stonewall Riots.

In 1970 they formed the world’s first trans-rights organization, STAR (Street Transvestites Action Revolutionaries). Despite their many challenges over the years—bias, homelessness, illness—Marsha and Sylvia ignited a powerful and lasting civil rights movement for gender nonconforming people.

Now, a quarter century later, at a time of unprecedented visibility and escalating violence in the transgender community, a dynamic activist named Victoria Cruz has taken it upon herself to reexamine what happened at the end of Marsha’s Life. THE DEATH AND LIFE OF MARSHA P. JOHNSON follows as this champion pursues leads, mobilizes officials, and works to get to the bottom of Marsha’s death.

Director David France

Writers David France, Mark Blane

Producers L.A. Teodosio, Kimberley Reed, David France

Executive Producers Joy A. Tomchin, Sara Ramirez, Alan Getz, Stanley Tomchin

Co-Executive Producers Mike C. Manning, Terrence Meck

Co-Producers Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Ted Snowdon, Duffy Violante, Tyler H. Walk

Associate Producers Mark Blane, Dan Silver, Clelia Simpso, Jared Ruga, Andrew Tobias

Editor Tyler H. Walk

Cinematographers Thomas Bergmann, Adam Uhl

Music Bryce Dessner

Cast Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Victoria Cruz

FESTIVALS
2017: Tribeca (World Premiere)