'Alaska Is a Drag' Dishes Flawlessness And Packs a Mean Punch

Alaska is a Drag film poster.

There is something magical about a glittery gold dress fluttering in between fluid shots of Shaz Bennett's lens, a wondrous garment that brings a close family closer, a haunting memory of a mother's spirit captured on a poignant whim. This is an heirloom, a timeless thing that one holds onto for dear life, especially an object that leads a startling roadmap to finding a missing parent.

Alaska Is a Drag is an emotionally gripping brother/sister survivor tale that offers resilient anchors for various plights through life-- a sweet, unquestionable reliance on finding selves whilst leaning on each other for supportive foundation. Leo works at a slimy fish factory with fanciful drag queen dreams and also happens to be a solid boxer. His little sister Tristen is fighting aggressive cancer. Each treatment Leo is Tristen's rock as she grows weaker from the pain. Lucy, their mother has run off to California and George, their father is present in body but sparsely around for them, having troubles of his own. Living in a mobile home, a place filled with sentimental belongings including that mesmerizing gold dress, Leo and Tristen have aspirations of leaving the cold state behind, hoping to high tail it to California and find their mother, believing that perhaps runaway mother has fulfilled her own ambitions. 

Leo (Martin L. Washington Jr.) and Tristen (Maya Washington)

From their hand holds at the hospital to having underage drinks at Jan's nosedive bar to transforming wondrous fielded meadows their makeshift catwalking playground, Leo and Tristen's relationship is a fascinating, tight-knit bond thanks in part to portrayers, Maya Washington and Martin L. Washington Jr.'s believable chemistry. Leo and Tristen take up for each other, Tristen standing up for Leo when Kyle, Leo's bullying co-worker, continues physically and verbally assaulting Leo. 

Leo (Martin L. Washington Jr.) and Declan (Matt Dallas) have a moment.

However, the sweet, infectious sibling love duo is tested once the mysterious Declan starts hanging about, a fellow employee of the fish factory and growing friend to Leo. Declan, seemingly quiet and observant, also defends Leo from Kyle's wrath, letting out a monster's rage. As it then turns out Kyle has a colossal secret that brings the story to its knees. 

One of the most remarkable aspects of Alaska Is a Drag is the dismantling of masculine and feminine traits associated with maleness. The metaphorical crux of it all is Leo competing in a boxing match and a drag queen contest on the same night-- the aggressive athlete versus the flawless beauty. Leo, complex and genuine, is an affectionate, tender brown figure who has always dabbled in his mother's clothes and makeup. Lucy and Tristen have accepted this side of him. At the fish factory, where lies routine of violent cutting and gutting of fish is this roaring, fast paced, smelly, all-testosterone environment, Leo is surrounded by men who don't necessarily regard him. There, a seething Kyle uses hatred of homosexuality as a means to gaining instant alpha male dominance, amped up by a legion of followers that like nothing more than pummeling Leo at any vulnerable opportunity. Leo, though, can defend himself. Armed with champion fighting skills and profound intelligence, he is no punching bag. Abuse is not a pretty aspect in any relationship. Thus, Kyle's cruelty is purely an inherited societal notion that he lashes upon Leo. Before the drag queen contest, fresh after boxing, as Leo puts makeup over his battle scars, it is a glaring reminder of those who can fight back and those who can't. 

Leo (Martin L. Washington Jr.) voguing and belting out his best in his mother's gold show dress-- a dress that she said to him, "you look better than me in it."

Stars Maya Washington (Tristen) and Martin L. Washington Jr. (Leo) serve face and extremely awesome Wonder Twins plus Jem and the Holograms vibes.

Shaz Bennett (far right) directing Matt Dallas (Declan, left) and Martin L. Washington Jr. (Leo, center) in the ring.

Director/writer Shaz Bennett is constantly keeping busy. For Alaska is a Drag, her nominations include AFI Fest's Grand Jury Prize and Gotham Awards Spotlight on Women Filmmakers "Live the Dream" Grant. A former script coordinator for UnReal and writing assistant on The Glades, Bennett is a script coordinator for Bosch and upcoming director of The Problem With Pulling Hair. She is also part of the all women directors team set for Queen Sugar's third season. Her episode, the fifth written by Chloe Hung, will be aired mid-June. 

Alaska is a Drag, still touring around lighting hearts and minds on fire, is a phenomenal first feature resonating deep. This smile inducing, soul warming story with subtle twists and gritty turns, gut wrenching performances (Margaret Cho and Jason Scott Lee have memorable cameos), and pleasing cinematography showcases that the actors underneath Bennett's talented eye and story contain "it factors" hovering beneath spotlight radar.

Like sparkling flecks of a gold sequin dress, Alaska Is a Drag shines bright.