DIVA caught up with the director of the vibrant documentary capturing the life of an iconic artist
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES BY BEST FRIEND FOREVER
Peaches Goes Bananas (2024) is a documentary by Marie Losier, capturing 17 years of the audacious electroclash artist Peaches. The film delves into her electrifying performances, intimate moments, and relentless boundary-pushing artistry, offering a raw and exhilarating portrait of this feminist queer icon.
DIVA spoke to the director Marie Losier ahead of its screening at BFI Flare.
Was there a specific moment or reference point which inspired your film?
The encounter, the friendship, is the moment of inspiration when I know there is maybe a film to make. In 2006 I was about to start filming with Genesis P-Orridge for what would become, years later, The Ballad Of Genesis And Lady Jaye. I lived in New York City at the time, and Gen was touring with Psychic TV, in Brussels. I met Peaches in Brussels at the Botanical Gardens. We clicked, I was immediately welcomed in, as a friend of Genesis I was by extension a friend of Peaches. I actually started filming Peaches before Genesis P-Orridge.
I had no idea what I was doing back then, but I sent Peaches the footage I’d taken as soon as I got back to New York. Peaches was surprised because no one usually sends footage like that. Then we met again in New York. 17 years went by to make this film together.
If you had to describe your film in three words, what would they be?
Body, dance-music, family.
What was the most unexpected lesson you learned while making this film?
Time passing and patience, ageing is cool.
How does it feel to have your film showcased at BFI Flare?
I’m happy to show my film at the BFI Flare for the first time!
BFI Flare is a celebration of LGBTQIA storytelling. What do you hope LGBTQIA audiences at BFI Flare take away after watching your film?
To feel moved, full of life and wishing to run home to create and love your body!
Why do you think LGBTQIA filmmaking is so important in 2025?
It has always been important and not just in 2025 yet right now the politics are so terrifying for human rights, and changing dramatically in many countries, that it needs to be even more present.
This year’s Flare is split into the themes of Hearts, Bodies, and Minds. Do you have an LGBTQIA film which affected your heart, body, or mind?
To Die Like A Man and Feu Follet by Joao Pedro Rodriguez.
What was the best piece of advice you received while working on this film, and what advice would you give to emerging queer filmmakers?
To make films to just create even without money, with your friends and not wait for the industry to make films! To just have the desire and keep it up.
What’s the one question you wish more people would ask about your film?
About filming the body and dance and how to film music and sound.
PEACHES GOES BANANAS screens as part of the 39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival on Saturday 22 March and Monday 24 March. For more details / tickets here
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