Being BeBe

2021

1h 33m

Documentary

Biography

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8 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Being BeBe intimately charts 15 years in the life of drag performer Marshall Ngwa (aka BeBe Zahara Benet): An immigrant to America from homophobic Cameroon, first champion on Reality TV phenomenon RuPaul's Drag Race, and a leading artist celebrating Black Queer Excellence today. Marshall's emotional journey raises timely concerns at the intersection of LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and immigrant lives within the context of a hard-fought artist's journey toward success against all odds.

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Natalia Winkelman

New York Times

Within her profile of Marshall Ngwa, who performs drag as BeBe Zahara Benet, Branham tucks lucid insights about the codes, ethics and art of cinematic biography.

Jun 7, 2022

Full Review

David Rooney

Hollywood Reporter

Even if Being BeBe doesn't often go deep, the candor and infectious humor of Ngwa make it a satisfying watch - particularly for fans who have made RuPaul's Drag Race its own vibrant chapter in contemporary queer pop-culture history.

Jun 29, 2021

Full Review

Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

The very first winner of RuPaul's Drag Race is the subject of this fairly straightforward documentary.

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 19, 2023

Full Review

Valerie Kalfrin

AWFJ.org

While the film doesn’t have a tight structure, it’s a warm profile of an effervescent personality who radiates self-acceptance and encourages others to do the same.

Jun 13, 2022

Full Review

Joey Keogh

Vague Visages

Being BeBe is full of heart, soul and wit — much like the subject herself — and provides a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain for fans and curious newcomers alike; a joy-filled, life-affirming must-watch.

Jun 8, 2022

Full Review

Amelia Harvey

Screen Queens

Branham has too much footage over the years of highs and lows that even she appears to struggle to know what to do with it. She clearly tries to cover too many angles, leaving interesting points feeling like perfunctory footnotes.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 28, 2022

Full Review

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Emily Branham

Director

Nea Marshall Kudi

Actor

Emily Branham

Producer

Jonathan Goodman Levitt

Producer

Marc Smolowitz

Producer

Emily Branham

Film Editor

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Synopsis

Being BeBe intimately charts 15 years in the life of drag performer Marshall Ngwa (aka BeBe Zahara Benet): An immigrant to America from homophobic Cameroon, first champion on Reality TV phenomenon RuPaul's Drag Race, and a leading artist celebrating Black Queer Excellence today. Marshall's emotional journey raises timely concerns at the intersection of LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and immigrant lives within the context of a hard-fought artist's journey toward success against all odds.

Director: Emily Branham
Producer: Emily Branham, Jonathan Goodman Levitt, Marc Smolowitz
Production Co: Work And Serve Productions, 13th Gen
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 7, 2022
Runtime: 1h 33m

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