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The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson

  • 2017
  • TV-MA
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
Marsha P. Johnson in The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)
Never-before-seen footage and rediscovered interviews combine to aid in the search for the truth behind the mysterious 1992 death of black transgender activist and Stonewall veteran Marsha P. Johnson.
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
13 Photos
BiographyDocumentary

Victoria Cruz investigates the mysterious 1992 death of black gay rights activist and Stonewall veteran, Marsha P. Johnson. Using archival interviews with Johnson, and new interviews with Jo... Read allVictoria Cruz investigates the mysterious 1992 death of black gay rights activist and Stonewall veteran, Marsha P. Johnson. Using archival interviews with Johnson, and new interviews with Johnson's family, friends and fellow activists.Victoria Cruz investigates the mysterious 1992 death of black gay rights activist and Stonewall veteran, Marsha P. Johnson. Using archival interviews with Johnson, and new interviews with Johnson's family, friends and fellow activists.

  • Director
    • David France
  • Writers
    • David France
    • Mark Blane
  • Stars
    • Kurt Wolfe
    • Sue Yacka
    • Catherine Shugrue Dos Santos
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    3.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David France
    • Writers
      • David France
      • Mark Blane
    • Stars
      • Kurt Wolfe
      • Sue Yacka
      • Catherine Shugrue Dos Santos
    • 12User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    Official Trailer

    Photos13

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    Top cast48

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    Kurt Wolfe
    • Self
    Sue Yacka
    • Self
    Catherine Shugrue Dos Santos
    • Self
    Victoria Cruz
    Victoria Cruz
    • Self - Crime-Victim Advocate
    Marcus Maier
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Taylor Mead
    Taylor Mead
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Marsha P. Johnson
    Marsha P. Johnson
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Jean Michaels
    • Self - Marsha's Sister
    Robert Michaels
    • Self - Marsha's Brother
    Jimmy Camicia
    • Self - Marsha's Friend
    • (archive footage)
    Randolfe Wicker
    • Self - Marsha's Roommate
    • (as Randy Wicker)
    Joe Cooper
    • Self
    James McShane
    • Self
    • (as Capt. James McShane)
    Sylvia Rivera
    • Self - Marsha's Friend
    • (archive footage)
    Karla Jay
    Karla Jay
    • Self - LGBT Movement Co-Founder
    Agosto Machado
    • Self - LGBT Movement Co-Founder
    Mark Segal
    Mark Segal
    • Self - LGBT Movement Co-Founder
    Chanel Lopez
    • Self
    • Director
      • David France
    • Writers
      • David France
      • Mark Blane
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews12

    7.23.3K
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    Featured reviews

    10iestyngwilliams-42096

    Powerful.

    Every young LGBTQ+ person should watch this. A great documentary about a strong woman.
    9robtyrrell-98607

    Should be required viewing

    I was originally going to say that this should be required viewing for young LGBTQ people, in order for them to have a better understanding of our history. But correct that to say that EVERYONE should watch this in order to better understand a segment of our society that has been brutally mistreated since...well, since forever.

    I lived in New York and came out (finally, at age 30) the same week that Marsha was murdered, in July 1992. I can't believe I don't remember this happening. :-(

    While this film isn't perfect, it tells an important story and the other people involved (Silvia, Victoria, etc.) are as compelling and worth knowing about as Marsha was. The details of their lives and experiences are compelling.

    I'm only sorry I'm discovering all this lo these many years later.
    8biasouza

    Deserves a better edition though

    It's heartwarming and devastating at the same time. It's a bit slow and it should be better edited, but it's an enormous lesson on empathy for us cisgender people with a roof above our heads to learn.
    10annikawarrick

    The woman, the story, and a little hope for the future

    It took me awhile to get around to watching this documentary but when I did, it was incredibly worth it. I re-watch it on occasion, because something about this documentary pulls me in.

    The documentary follows Victoria Cruz as she tries to follow the trail of the cold case surrounding the death of well know trans activist Marsha P. Johnson. Beyond this base story, we see much more though. I feel the documentary comunicates several important things. It educates, about her, the woman we love, Marsha, it gives us a glimpse into the history of trans rights and queer activism, it tells us of the issues trans activists and trans people still faces today, but it also, in many senses, the documentary offers a ray of light, hope, maybe, by showing us as a community how far we have come.

    In conclusion, one of my number one pride month movies!
    8zkiko

    people with the least.. share the most

    Wow.. this documentary is beautiful! So much to learn for people that would open their eyes and heart and be human(e). What I saw mostly was the fight against injustice in many ways, and the almost saint-like Marsha that shared so much of herself. It's always people with the least privilege that share the most. I found that part when Sylvia took the stage very powerful, and speech she gave and the reaction that it got showed the hypocrisy of many (gay people) in the white middle class and up that just took what they wanted and moved on leaving the others in the dirt. The people doing real work in the trenches almost never get their shine.. Later on, the times we live in now.. people jump on a bandwagon and think they are holy for adopting a mind-state that seems to portray open mindedness, but it doesn't. We need to stop worshiping celebs and give props to those that are not super-visible..try and recognise them, they are seldom seen and at the same time they are there...Mostly they are not shiny, not superclean, they are scarred and broken from lifting so much weight. See them. Strong documentary.

    Very painful to see how much Sylvia has struggled. Beautiful to see how Marsha shared her light. I love it when a documentary sheds light on people that are unseen, people that fought justice and gave love where there was so much darkness and hate.

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    Related interests

    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
    Documentary

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Quotes

      Marsha P. Johnson: Really, everybody goes sooner or later. Tomorrow's not promised to anyone. I learned that in church when I was five years old. And I've never forgotten it. So, uh, every day counts.

      [chuckles]

    • Connections
      Featured in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Rosie O'Donnell/David France/Anton Fig (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Aheym for Orchestra
      Performed by Kronos Quartet with Bryce Dessner

      Composed by Bryce Dessner

      Published by G. Schirmer, Inc. (ASCAP) o/b/o Chester Music (PRS)

      Courtesy of ANTI-Records

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    FAQ16

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 6, 2017 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Greece
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cuộc Đời và Cái Chết Của Marsha P. Johnson
    • Production companies
      • Public Square Films
      • Ninety Thousand Words
      • Faliro House Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 45m(105 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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