The entire time that I was watching the John Onieal directed short film Sister!, I couldn’t help but think one thing, “RuPaul’s Drag Race needs to take note. This is how you do comedy.” This thought isn’t meant to take away from Sister! and divert attention to RuPaul’s Drag Race, especially during its 2025 Tribeca Film Festival premiere. Instead it’s meant to highlight how Sister! actually understands comedy, pacing, camp, queer chaos, and how to drop a banger of a line over and over again.
This is a 13 minute short film. And within the first 5 minutes I was already taking notes while laughing. And I don’t break easily when it comes to comedy. But what am I supposed to do when one of the characters says, “Blondes and brunettes are rivals in this country” in the middle of a light disagreement? Also what am I supposed to do when someone casually says “I have to DJ this nepo babies birthday party. Their name is Spoon” or “I thought we were bonding. Makeovers mean something in my culture.”
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This is how you do a high concept campy story that keeps people seated because they’re laughing so hard at the absurdity of these relatable exchanges. But this is also how you stick with the viewer after they watch this film in the theater or in the comfort of their own home. Because I can see myself replying to a friend and saying “I’m from a broken home. Cleaning is one of my triggers” or “I’m sorry you’re ugly, your words.” So shout out to the comedy talents of Julia Wendt and Tessa Belle themselves, who starred in and wrote Sister!. They understand who’s coming to watch this short film and they speak to them in a language that they understand.
But Sister! isn’t just about queer camp glory with lines that Drag Race wishes it could come up with. It’s also a story about found family. And within that chaos you see James (Wendt), a transfemme diva, getting to know and eventually bond with their long-lost sister, a bimbo coded stranger named Tessa (Belle), who isn’t a scammer and who isn’t trying to steal from them. And it’s pure magic that by the end of 13 minutes James chooses to throw away the DNA that could prove if Tessa really is their sister. Because they don’t need it anymore. They’ve bonded. This is their sister. That’s all that matters.
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Sister! is right to describe itself as a “whip-smart comedy with a tender, chaotic core.” James and Tessa are absolute disasters. But by the end of the short film you realize that they care for each other and come through for each other in small but significant ways. James did Tessa’s laundry and Tessa took care of James after she accidentally broke his nose. And there’s even the bonding that they had before when taking photos and doing each other’s makeup. Those small and tender moments, which might seem inconsequential on the surface, really turn the tide for both of these characters and for the short film itself.
In general, big studios need to take notes when it comes to short films like Sister!
You don’t need an overblown budget to create magic. What you need is dedicated writers, actors, and directors who simply want to create. Money matters. It always will, especially for those distributing films. But the way to keep the film industry fresh, vibrant, and to actually get people to invest in your properties, is if you invest in creatives like the ones behind Sister!. They’re the ones who understand the markets you’re trying to get into the theaters or to subscribe to your streaming service. So listen and take note. Because Sister! is something I would like to see more of, especially during a time where we’re getting less LGBTQ+ content across the board.
Sister! is currently screening at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival.
Queerly Not Straight posts Saturdays with opinion pieces, listicals, reviews, and more focused on the LGBT community (and occasionally about the Latine community since I am Latine.)
For Pride 2025, I’ll be posting more throughout the month.
