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.
Director: James Rasin
Release Year: 2010
Synopsis:
"Beautiful Darling" (2010), a feature-length documentary directed by James Rasin, is a heartfelt exploration of the life and legacy of Candy Darling, one of the most iconic figures in the New York City avant-garde scene of the 1960s and 70s. Darling, a pioneering trans woman and actress, became an emblematic muse of Andy Warhol's Factory, capturing the fascination of both the art world and pop culture. Rasin’s film is a deeply personal and poignant portrayal of Darling’s short but extraordinary life, as well as an examination of her complex identity as a trans woman navigating the turbulent cultural landscape of the 20th century.
The documentary begins by examining the early years of Darling's life, born James Lawrence Slattery in Long Island, New York, in 1944. From a young age, Darling exhibited an undeniable longing to escape the limitations of her assigned gender and embrace her identity as a woman. The film poignantly highlights how Candy transformed herself into an unforgettable persona, driven by a dream to live as the glamorous women she admired in Hollywood films. The documentary makes clear that Darling’s journey was not without struggle, but her ambition, charisma, and striking beauty propelled her into the orbit of Warhol and his Factory, where she would rise to fame as one of his most beloved superstars.
2010,
Candy Darling,
English,
Holly Woodlawn,
Jackie Curtis,
Jayne County,
USA,
Directors: Bill Weber and David Weissman
Release Year: 2002
Synopsis:
The 2002 documentary The Cockettes, directed by Bill Weber and David Weissman, offers a captivating, nostalgic, and poignant look at one of the most important avant-garde performance groups in the history of San Francisco’s countercultural scene. With their flamboyant costumes, gender-bending antics, and anarchic performances, The Cockettes were not just a drag troupe—they were a living, breathing embodiment of 1960s and 1970s sexual liberation, psychedelic experimentation, and artistic rebellion. Through interviews with surviving members, archival footage, and reflections on the group's rise and fall, The Cockettes documentary paints a vivid picture of their wild performances, the cultural climate they emerged from, and the lasting impact of their work on both the queer community and mainstream pop culture.
In the fall of 1969, a group of young artists living in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district formed the nucleus of what would become The Cockettes. Led by Hibiscus (born George Edgerly Harris III), a flamboyant artist, and inspired by the freewheeling spirit of the hippie movement, The Cockettes embodied a radical vision of performance that defied the traditional boundaries of gender, sexuality, and theater. Hibiscus, a lover of drag, and other members of the troupe sought to put their "outlandish" lifestyles on display as a form of artistic expression. They created impromptu, experimental performances that often included surreal, improvised musical numbers, an array of bizarre costumes, and a complete disregard for conventional theatrical structures.
2002,
Candy Darling,
English,
Holly Woodlawn,
Jackie Curtis,
USA,
