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: Lionel Bernard and Christophe Campos
Release Year: 1995
Synopsis:
The documentary was aired on CANAL+ in 1995. It portrays the French community of transgender divas, their stage performances, and their interactions with society.
One of the main characters is Coccinelle, also known as Jacqueline Charlotte Dufresnoy, a French actress, entertainer, and singer. She was a transgender icon, being one of the first widely publicized post-war gender reassignment cases in Europe.
God Save the Queens, a compelling documentary directed by Christophe Campos and aired on CANAL+ in 1995, offers an intimate portrait of the vibrant world of transgender divas in France. This 41-minute film captures not only the artistry and performances of these individuals but also their interactions with society at large, showcasing the complex dynamics of identity, acceptance, and resilience.
1995,
Carmen Xtravaganza,
Coccinelle,
Crystal LaBeija,
Doris Fish,
French,
Psicosis Gonsales,
Rachel Harlow,
Director: Alessandro Blasetti
Release Year: 1959
Original title: Europa di notte
Synopsis:
Europa di notte (1959), directed by Alessandro Blasetti, is a captivating, albeit unconventional documentary that takes viewers on a night-time journey through the dazzling and often illicit world of European cabaret. Through a series of vignettes set in famous nightlife spots in major European cities—London, Paris, Madrid, and Vienna—the film introduces a panorama of variety acts, including burlesque shows, dancing, magic tricks, and musical performances. It captures the spirit of post-war European entertainment, reflecting both the vibrancy and decadence of the cabaret scene that flourished during the 1950s.
Blasetti, known primarily for his work in Italian cinema, particularly within the neorealist and historical genres, approached Europa di notte with a distinctive style that blended documentary and spectacle. The film was something of an experimental work for him, designed to be an almost chaotic collage of performances and nightlife, presented as an "artistic documentary" where the line between reality and entertainment was often blurred. He described the film as a "spectacle-documentary," a fusion of reality and artistic performance that might one day disappear as the world of cabaret slowly faded into history. The documentary was a snapshot of an era, featuring some of the most famous entertainers of the time, and it would later be credited with inspiring the genre of "mondo movies," films that expose various aspects of society, often with a sensationalized and voyeuristic tone.
1959,
Coccinelle,
Italian,
Italy,
Jacqueline Charlotte Dufresnoy,
