Austin Nunes’ Into the Bloo is a heartfelt documentary short following drag musician Lagoona Bloo (David Brumfield) as she prepares for an evening performance and recounts the challenging events that led up to this moment.
David was raised in a strict Mexican-American household in Louisiana by parents who upheld rigid expectations. His mother was all about appearances. She was hyper-fixated on appearances, particularly how the family was perceived publicly. She was critical of David’s behavior and weight. She also disapproved of his homosexuality, often discouraging his “feminine” behavior and suppressing expression of identity in an attempt to “fix” him.
Meanwhile, his relationship with his father was marred by the progression of schizophrenia, which led to episodes of paranoia and abuse. Despite this, David cherishes memories of his father’s singing voice—a gift he now embraces as part of his own artistry.
“The heart of Into the Bloo lies in Lagoona’s reflection on her relationship with her parents…”
It wouldn’t be until the death of their parents that David fully embraced the drag persona, Lagoona Bloo. Her unique act features live performances of original songs. Not having a platform like RuPaul’s Drag Race to propel her career, Lagoona Bloo relies on sheer talent and charisma on her road to success.
Set in her dressing room, the film explores Lagoona’s pursuit of authenticity and creativity, overcoming the challenges of her childhood and the loss of her parents. Lagoona’s intimate story is told up close as she dons her makeup for the evening’s performance, almost ruining it all with some very heartfelt tears.
The heart of Into the Bloo lies in Lagoona’s reflection on her relationship with her parents and its role in shaping David’s transition into adulthood and the rise of Lagoona Bloo. We are all looking for love and acceptance from others—and ourselves.
"…We are all looking for love and acceptance from others—and ourselves."
