John Waters This Filthy World (Is Filthy)

If I was ever asked to make a list of my favourite directors of all time, the name John Waters would be at the top of the list. In the interests of rediscovering why I love this man so much, I've decided to rewatch his filmography, in no particular order, starting with his stand-up comedy routine This Filthy World.

John Waters

John Waters: This Filthy World

When John Waters brought his stand-up comedy routine to Auckland city, I missed out. I was crushed. This live-recording more than made up for it though giving us tremendous insight into the filthy, and yet, charming mind of a true maverick.

This Filthy World might not be the best stand-up in the world, but it's rich with anecdotes that are both funny and bizarre. What his frequent collaborator Divine used to get up to in their early filmmaking career is just hilarious. "When we reenacted the Kennedy assassination, Divine played Jackie, but when his mother found his bloodied pink suit, he was so nervous he said I AM JACKIE KENNEDY!"

John Waters | This Filthy World

John Waters is a twisted Richard Attenborough. He pursues his obsessions with an unapologetic, active curiosity such as sitting in on Patricia Hearst's trial. He returns from the wild to report his findings with great enthusiasm. I challenge you to find somebody who can talk about "anal blossoms" with equal relish.

He makes filth so accessible for the mainstream though with a unique, observational humour. Sure, he will always be outside of the mainstream and will forever retain a cult status, but it's also his delightful, non-threatening quality that makes him so accessible - even though he admits to looking like a child molester.

The bit about Michael Jackson's burn unit had me in hysterics. When my flatmates got home from work, I made them all watch it, just to see their faces screw up in laughter at the mention of MJ's "watery load."