KHUSH
England, 1991, 24 minutes, Color.
A film by: Pratibha Parmar
KHUSH means ecstatic pleasure in Urdu. For South Asian lesbians and gay men in Britain, North America, and India (where homosexuality is still illegal) the term captures the blissful intricacies of being queer and of color. Inspiring testimonies bridge geographical differences to locate shared experiences of isolation and exoticization but also the unremitting joys and solidarity of being “khush”. Accentuated by beautifully lit dream sequences, dance segments and a dazzlingly sensuous soundtrack, this uplifting documentary conveys the exhilaration of a culturally rooted experience of sexuality.
Awards
- Winner of the Public Prize for Best Foreign Film at the 14th Creteil Womens Film Festival, Paris April 1992
- Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary Short at the Frameline Film and Video Festival in San Francisco, June 1991
- Winner of the Public Prize at the 7th International Womens Film Festival in Madrid, November 1991
Quotes
- “Khush is lyricism and documentary, art and commentary, and an important lesson in social history.” – Noreen Barnes, Bay Area Reporter
- “Sensual dance, music and performance vignettes are interspersed with the interviews, creating a film that’s at times erotic and aesthetically beautiful, yet always intelligent.” – A G , The San Francisco Bay Guardian
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