A random collection of films authored by or about my transgender, intersex sisters, and gender-nonconforming persons all over the world. I watched some of them, and I was inspired by some of them. I met some of the authors and heroines, some of them are my best friends, and I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing some of them. If you know of any transgender documentary that I have not covered yet, please let me know.
Directors: Cynthia Arra & Mélissa Arra
Release Year: 2007
Original title: L'ordre des mots
Synopsis:
"L'ordre des mots," directed by Cynthia and Mélissa Arra, is a poignant exploration of the struggles and triumphs faced by the Trans and Intersex community in France. This film distinguishes itself by providing a platform for voices often marginalized in mainstream discourse, allowing individuals to articulate their journeys in the quest for identity. Through a blend of personal narratives and broader societal critiques, the film invites audiences to reconsider established norms surrounding gender identity, sexuality, and the body.
At its core, "L'ordre des mots" delves into the complexities of gender identity, presenting a multifaceted view that goes beyond the typical narratives associated with Trans issues. The Arra sisters employ a unique approach by featuring contemporary activists and precursors of the Trans and Intersex movement, showcasing a rich tapestry of experiences that reflect the diverse realities of these communities.
Alexis Arquette: She's My Brother (2007), directed by Matthew Barbato, is a deeply introspective documentary that captures the volatile, multifaceted journey of Alexis Arquette, the transgender actor and activist, in the months leading up to her sex reassignment surgery. The film is a portrait of an individual in flux—someone grappling with identity, gender, and personal transformation. But it is also a work of artifice, one that, at times, resists offering any clear answers or resolutions to the questions it raises. In essence, it is as much about the process of searching for identity as it is about the identity itself.
The documentary, filmed in 2005, follows Alexis Arquette—a member of the famous Arquette family, which includes actors Patricia, Rosanna, David, and Richmond—as she navigates the final stages of her gender transition. Born Robert Arquette, Alexis had lived as a female "on and off" since the age of 13 but was now preparing for what she described as "the final step" in her gender-affirming process. Through a series of raw, unpolished video diaries, disjointed interviews, and moments of private reflection, Arquette offers the viewer a glimpse into her complex persona, revealing two distinct Alexises: one the playful, narcissistic performer and the other a reflective, even reluctant philosopher confronting the weight of her transition.
"I’ve been trapped in a man’s body, but my soul is a woman’s." These poignant words from Lucy Parker (born Richard Parker) encapsulate the essence of the groundbreaking documentary Lucy: Teen Transsexual (2013). The film, produced by BBC3, provides an intimate and powerful portrayal of Lucy's journey as the youngest transsexual in Britain. At just 18 years old, Lucy had already begun her transformation from Richard, a boy who struggled with his identity, to a young woman who was finally living as her true self.
From a young age, Lucy (then Richard) knew she was different. Growing up in Middlesbrough, she was drawn to things that were stereotypically considered feminine, such as makeup, dresses, and high heels. However, her gender identity did not align with societal expectations, and she was forced to navigate a world where she did not quite fit in.
Lucy recalls that even as a child, she sensed something was off. At the age of four, she asked her mother, “Why am I different?” but was too young to explain the depth of her feelings. Her mother, Allison, initially did not understand what her child was experiencing. Lucy’s discomfort only deepened during her school years, where she was bullied for not conforming to traditional gender norms. As Richard, she hated typical “boyish” activities like football and Cubs, and often felt like an outsider. She preferred the company of girls and secretly dressed up in girls’ clothing at home, activities that were quickly shut down by family members who did not understand what she was going through.
"Transition documentation often tells a predictable story, which this film shares: since his early childhood Steven knew he wanted to be a girl yet, only after marriage does he decide to go through with a sex change to become Gwen. Displacing the formula, what She’s a Boy I Knew contributes to the genre is gut-wrenching honest reactions and deeply introspective commentary from those people closest to the filmmaker. Expressions of refreshing candor come from a father who suffers the loss of his only son, a sister whose own medical history is brought back to light, influences on a younger queer sibling, parallels in her mother’s (lost) ambition, and finally the heartbreak of a wife’s lost love."
"Beyond the engrossing interview material, Haworth uses archival family footage, phone messages, and animation, to create the emotional arc that is at turns funny, painful, and awkward. Filmed over several years while consciously making use of consumer grade material, Haworth’s unique image of a family transitioning demonstrates that chronicling trans experiences is within everyone’s reach."
"The documentary shows the life of a community of spiritual priests in the traditional Vietnamese Dao Mau temple traditions. Although called ai nam ai nu, a term for homosexuals in Vietnamese society, the priests perform spiritual rituals in ‘drag’ as mediums for female spirits and Mother God."
"The film offers a look into a private community of heartwarming gender variant people, who express themselves with wry humor and in fabulous dresses. Love Man Love Woman depicts a community that defies gender and sexuality norms from within the religious context."
Directors: Anjali Monteiro and K.P. Jayasankar
Release Year: 2007
Synopsis:
"Set in Tamil Nadu, Our Family brings together excerpts from Nirvanam, a one person performance by Pritham K. Chakravarthy and the family of three generations of transgendered female subjects, who are bound together by ties of adoption. They all belong to the transgendered community called Aravani."
"Aasha Baharathi, the grandmother, is the president of the Tamil Nadu Aranvanigal Association, Chennai. Seetha, the daughter and Dhana, the granddaughter live in Coimbatoire. Weaving together performance, life histories and everyday life, the film problematises the divides between 'us' and 'them'. The screening will be co-presented by members of the Roze Samosa group who will give context to the film."
"There’s quite a story behind 21-year-old transgender model Valentijn de Hingh. Discovered as an eight-year-old boy by Dutch filmmaker Hetty Niesch, de Hingh was filmed from then until seventeen in what was originally part of a small piece on transgender youth but which became a longer (nine year!) documentary when the director decided to focus solely on her growth and development."
"The film debuted on Dutch television in 2007. De Hingh, who had gender reassignment surgery just before the release, was very happy with its success and how well it portrayed the trials and decisions that transgender youth face."
"A groundbreaking portrayal of gender, identity and the unshakeable bonds of twinship. Identical twins Mark and Alex have always defined themselves in terms of each other. But when Alex decides to undergo a sex change operation, Mark starts to question his own sense of being. We follow the twins over three years as Alex slowly metamorphosizes into a woman named Clair. Filmed in a fragmented, haunting style by a family friend, this is a wrenchingly candid, dreamy film.
"Red Without Blue" is a powerful documentary about twins--one is a gay man, the other is transitioning to womanhood. Mark and Alex were incredibly close as children. They had the bond of twins, and still do. Mark faces Alex's transition to Claire with difficulty. He has a hard time coming to terms with the fact that his beloved brother is becoming his sister. There's beautiful music from Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons (Hegarty deems himself transsexual, though he never has had surgery)- The Crying Light, I am a Bird Now, and Antony and the Johnsons. Antony's unearthly, ethereal singing accompanies the documentary. He powerfully sings, "Today I am a boy, one day I will be a beautiful woman."
