The Aggressives

This striking and illuminating documentary explores and exposes the secret subculture of New York lesbians living as "aggressives." Often mistaken for men, these women range from pretty tomboys to the blatantly butch, boldly creating their own identities outside of society's established sexual categories. Stripped of pretense, they lead us to fashion shoots and prison cells to reveal their work lives, love lives and social lives, including the underground "ball" scene where lesbians compete for lead "AG" status. The resulting documentary is the culmination of five years spent uncovering the "no apologies" lifestyle of six self-defined aggressives as they define their dreams, share their most intimate secrets and reveal their deepest fears. The female counterpart to Paris is Burning, this heartfelt all-access film exposes the AG community in all its unabashed, rough-edged glory and explores its impact on gender identity in the modern world.