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: Sebastiano d’Ayala Valva
Release Year: 2011
Synopsis:
Sebastiano d’Ayala Valva’s 2011 film Angel is a striking exploration of identity, survival, and the nuances of human relationships, set against the backdrop of a deeply divided society. Centered around the figure of Angel (also known as ‘Mujeron’—Big Woman), a transsexual prostitute and former boxer, the film delves into the life of a remarkable individual whose quest for dignity, justice, and familial connection reveals both the complexity of self and the harsh realities of economic struggle. A poignant character study of a woman who has lived in exile for years,
Angel's return to Ecuador confronts her with painful questions of identity, family loyalty, and social rejection.
At its core, Angel is about survival—the lengths people go to when faced with the crushing pressures of poverty and the weight of social marginalization. It challenges the viewer to consider the intersections of gender, class, and sexuality in an increasingly globalized world. This deeply personal story takes the audience beyond the typical narratives surrounding trans people, focusing instead on the humanity of its protagonist and the particular cultural, social, and economic forces that shape her world.
Director: Sebastiano d’Ayala Valva
Release Year: 2006
Original title: Les travestis pleurent aussi
Synopsis:
In the heart of Paris, tucked away in a narrow side street near the bustling Place de Clichy, there exists a hidden world—a world of darkness, vulnerability, and resilience. This is where the lives of marginalized Ecuadorian trans women unfold in Sebastiano d’Ayala Valva’s poignant 2006 documentary, Les Travestis Pleurent Aussi (Transvestites Also Cry). The film takes us behind the doors of seedy hotels, beneath the glitz of Parisian landmarks, and into the lives of trans sex workers who live on the fringes of society. What d'Ayala Valva captures is not just the pain of these individuals, but also their strength, humor, and unyielding desire for a better life.
The documentary centers on two Ecuadorian trans women, Romina and Mia, who live and work in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris’ notorious park where many transgender women engage in sex work. As illegal immigrants, they are forced into a life of exploitation, navigating both the challenges of their marginalized gender identities and the harsh realities of their status as undocumented migrants in France.
The narrative unfolds in two small, dingy hotels located in a back alley, a stone’s throw away from the popular tourist destinations of Place de Clichy. These hotels, with their dilapidated interiors, provide a temporary refuge for the women who work the streets of Paris. Their faces are etched with hardship, their lives deeply affected by the stigma of their profession and their gender identities. Yet, through d'Ayala Valva's lens, these spaces also become places where their stories of joy, sorrow, and survival are told.
2006,
Angel,
Ecuador,
France,
Spanish,
