The debut feature from director Jeffrey McHale is a meticulous exploration of the fascinating fall and rise of one of the most infamous American films of the past 30 years.
Charting the initial critical savaging (and box office failure) of Paul Verhoeven’s Showgirls as well how it can now boast of an army of fans, You Don’t Nomi is the ultimate guide to the resurrection of the film, first as a camp classic, then as a vitally important satire of the American Dream, and an important film in its’ own right.
Featuring contributions from a wide range of Showgirls admirers, You Don’t Nomi explores the winding journey of the film towards critical acceptance as well as its many facets – from a satire of American capitalism to a portrait of female agency, to the various, vital queer readings of the film – in what is a vital account of cinema as a cultural artefact.
Also featuring an in-depth exploration of how it fits into Verhoeven’s wider filmography, McHale makes the case for Showgirls being one of the director’s key films, and is an essential, entertaining watch.
This film is screening at Tyneside Cinema as FLESH + BLOOD: THE CINEMA OF PAUL VERHOEVEN which you can learn more about here!