I Am Divine

If you want a documentary that respects its subject, I Am Divine is available in the US on MUBI and Kanopy right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. With 93 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Divine's involvement signals a level of cooperation that is hard to secure. Put it on tonight on MUBI and see for yourself.

I Am Divine is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The access I Am Divine gets is remarkable — and the storytelling does full justice to it. Harris Glenn Milstead, aka Divine (1945-1988) was the ultimate outsider turned underground hero. Spitting in the face of the status quos of body image, gender identity, sexuality, and preconceived notions of beauty, Divine succeeded in becoming an internationally recognized icon, recording artist, and character actor of stage and screen. Glenn went from the often-mocked, schoolyard fat kid to underdog royalty, standing up for millions of gay men and women, drag queens and punk rockers, and countless other socially ostracized misfits and freaks. Featuring Divine and John Waters, it gets access that is hard to secure twice. I Am Divine came out in 2014. Documentary work at this level requires access that is hard to get and storytelling that does justice to it — I Am Divine has both. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Documentary fans who value serious storytelling will find I Am Divine essential viewing. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. The subject drives every choice here, not the other way around. The kind of production you finish and immediately want to read more about.

I Am Divine was released in 2014, directed by Jeffrey Schwarz. The full 90-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.