Purvette (2024)
Dir. Alex Eisenberg5 Mins, 8mm film
A portrait of the 102-year-old DJ and legendary pioneer of drag shows in London, Jo Purvis. Purvis, who was named by QX Magazine as a “living legend of the gay scene” talks about her life and career.
Directors Statement Being asked to make this film was such a gift and I just jumped at the opportunity. Spending time with Jo at the incredible Nightingale Hammerson in Clapham where she lives, really gave me an insight into the dynamics of the gay and lesbian scene from the 1960s onwards.
Jo is a self confessed ‘night owl’ and so conversations were late night. It was as if we were having a ‘ciggy’ in the corner of the club, two Jews having a camp natter, replete with Yiddish and Polari!
With this film I wanted to make a portrait of Jo at 102. It was also essential to use some archive footage that I found on DVD in her room and capture something of the past eras she inhabited and so I decided to shoot on 8mm film.
The film asks what it’s like to look back on a life in clubs (alongside her day job at British Airways!). It also attests to Jo’s sprit and life force at this moment in 2024.
This film really was a collaboration between Jo and I hope in a small way that it contributes to the important history of queer life in London and gets seen widely.
There was of course so much that didn’t make it in and I am hoping that the interview I did with Jo will be housed in at the Bishopsgate Institute Archive.
Jo Purvis passed away at 104 in Feburary 2026.
Screenings
UK Jewish Film Fesivial (Premiere), London 2024Fringe Film Festival, London, 2025
Bendigo Queer Film Festival, Australia, 2025
East London LGBTQ+ Film Festival, 2025
Credits
Director and Camera - Alex Eisenberg
Consulting Editor- Joe Cohen
Thanks to
Jenny Pattinson - CEO Nightingale Hammerson
Benjamin Till - Producer, UKJFF
Michael Etherton - Executive Producer, UKJFF
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