Female Trouble

See the outrageous cult classic directed by John Waters and starring the iconic Divine.

Female Trouble (1974) is John Waters at his best – dark, twisted, and hilariously over-the-top. Starring the legendary Divine as Dawn Davenport, the film kicks off with a bang when Dawn runs away from home because she didn’t get the cha-cha heels she wanted for Christmas. From there, it’s a wild ride through crime, chaos and total madness as Dawn becomes the muse for a couple obsessed with the idea that crime is beautiful. With Waters’ trademark shock humour, this film is a wickedly funny takedown of fame and society’s love of scandal.

Dawn is the ultimate anti-hero – violent, self-absorbed, and totally shameless. But thanks to Divine’s jaw-dropping performance, she’s also impossible to look away from. Divine brings a whole new meaning to "larger-than-life", making Dawn a charming, if totally bonkers, character who throws all norms out the window. Divine became a cult icon through roles like this, with her bold style and fearless attitude inspiring legions of fans.

– Professor Angela Ndalianis, Professor Emeritus, Centre for Transformative Media Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology