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: Silvia Maggi
Release Year: 2013
Synopsis:
In Welcome Home, director Silvia Maggi takes audiences into the heart of Lebensort Vielfalt, the first LGBT intergenerational elderly community in Germany. This groundbreaking project is a testament to the possibilities of self-managed, community-driven care models that cater to the specific needs of LGBTQ+ seniors, creating a space where aging, care, and identity are not compromised but celebrated. Through the lens of this innovative project, Welcome Home explores themes of identity, belonging, care, and community, while also highlighting the profound social and political importance of building alternative, inclusive care models for marginalized groups.
Located in Berlin, Lebensort Vielfalt is a co-housing project designed specifically for LGBTQ+ seniors, creating an alternative to traditional elder care homes that often fail to meet the needs of older LGBTQ+ individuals. The initiative is revolutionary not only for its focus on LGBTQ+ seniors but also for its model of self-management. Residents of Lebensort Vielfalt are responsible for the daily functioning of the community, making collective decisions about the management of the space, organizing activities, and determining how care is provided.
In this self-organized environment, decisions are made collectively in community meetings, where all members, regardless of age or background, have a say.
Director: Alain Godet
Release Year: 2004
Translation: Sex Change: How Christian Became Nadia
Synopsis:
The documentary Sex Change: Wie Christian zu Nadia wurde (2004), directed by Alain Godet, is an intimate and poignant exploration of a person’s transition from man to woman. The subject of this transformative journey is Christian Brönimann, who, after undergoing gender reassignment surgery in 1998, re-emerged as Nadia Brönimann. Over the course of eight years, Godet meticulously followed Nadia’s journey, capturing moments of personal growth, crises, and the search for identity, love, and acceptance. Through this film, viewers are given rare insight into the challenges and complexities that accompany gender transition, beyond just the physical changes, and into the emotional and psychological struggles that shape the human experience.
Christian Brönimann’s story is one of self-discovery and self-representation. Growing up in the small Swiss village of Heiden, Christian was raised in a middle-class, bourgeois family. His father was a director, and the family’s social circle was largely conventional and conservative. Christian's early life is marked by a sense of alienation from traditional gender roles. From a young age, he gravitated more toward the company of girls than boys and secretly wore his mother's clothes. These early experiences suggest that Christian was already beginning to feel a disconnect between his inner sense of self and the gender role imposed upon him by society.
2004,
German,
Nadia Brönimann,
Switzerland,
Director: Johanna Jackie Baier
Release Year: 2013
Synopsis:
"Julia" (2013) by Johanna Jackie Baier is a searing exploration of identity, transformation, and survival, told through the intimate lens of a trans woman's life journey. A film that transcends the typical documentary format, "Julia" is a meditation on what it means to be uprooted, displaced, and forced to carve out a place for oneself in a world that often rejects and punishes difference. Through the lens of Julia K., a transsexual woman from Klaipeda, Lithuania, Baier traces a decade-long narrative of self-discovery, rage, and defiance against the confines of society and the rigid structures that define gender, desire, and belonging.
At its heart, the documentary asks a provocative and often uncomfortable question: What would drive a boy from art school in Klaipeda to leave home and ultimately become a woman who sells her body in the streets of Berlin, in the back rooms of clubs, and in the shadowy corners of a porn theater? This journey, seemingly driven by desperation, rebellion, and survival, is captured with a raw and unapologetic honesty that refuses to turn away from the complexities of Julia's life.
2013,
German,
Germany,
Johanna Jackie Baier,
Julia Krivickas,
Lithuania,
Director: Laurence Périgaud
Release Year: 2012
Original title: Entre il et ailes - Devenir femme à 60 ans
Synopsis:
In 2012, the world witnessed a powerful and poignant documentary, Entre il et ailes – Devenir femme à 60 ans (translated as In einem Jahr zu Christa – Frau werden mit sechzig). Directed by Laurence Périgaud, the film followed the life of Christa Muth, a distinguished professor of management, systems scientist, and transgender activist, as she embarked on a deeply personal and transformative journey to embrace her true identity as a woman. Muth’s story is not just a tale of gender transition; it is a journey of profound self-discovery, courage, and societal reflection that transcends the boundaries of personal experience to become a universal narrative about human rights, identity, and freedom.
Born in 1949 in Rheydt, a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Christa Muth spent the majority of her life navigating the complexities of her gender identity in a world that expected her to fit neatly into the binary roles of “male” and “female.”
2012,
Christa Muth,
French,
German,
Switzerland,
Director: Johanna Jackie Baier
Release Year: 2011
Synopsis:
"House of Shame: Chantal All Night Long" (2011), directed by Johanna Jackie Baier, is an extraordinary documentary that captures the wild, raw, and rebellious spirit of Berlin’s underground queer scene, led by the larger-than-life personality of Chantal, the manager, hostess, and stage-hogging frontwoman of the iconic ‘House of Shame.’ The film weaves together a rich tapestry of interviews, behind-the-scenes glimpses, personal anecdotes, and live performances, while also delving into the complex life of its central figure, Chantal. With a combination of archival footage and contemporary perspectives, Baier crafts a portrait of a woman who, much like her parties, defies convention and embraces the freedom of expression in a city that has long been a beacon for outcasts, revolutionaries, and the queer community.
At the heart of the film is Chantal herself. She is a force of nature – unapologetic, flamboyant, and deeply embedded in the nightlife and queer culture of Berlin. Originally from a small town in southwestern Germany, Chantal’s journey to becoming the enigmatic figure at the center of ‘House of Shame’ began in the autumn of 1980, when she fled to Berlin seeking freedom and self-expression. Like many young dreamers before her, she was drawn to the city's vibrant arts scene, its open-mindedness, and its rebellious spirit.
Berlin in the 1980s was a city on the cusp of transformation. The Wall was still up, the Cold War was at its height, but beneath the surface, a countercultural revolution was brewing. The squats along Oranienstraße, the newly founded SO36 club (pioneered by artist Martin Kippenberger), and the flourishing Neue Wilde art movement set the stage for a dramatic shift in the city’s cultural landscape. It was here, amidst this chaotic and creative ferment, that Chantal would carve out her unique place in history.
2011,
German,
Germany,
Johanna Jackie Baier,
Director: Elmar Schubert & Zoran Jablanovic
Release Year: 2011
Synopsis:
In the field of documentary filmmaking, few films achieve the raw authenticity and emotional depth required to capture the nuances of deeply personal human experiences. Lichtvögel (2011), directed by Elmar Schubert and Zoran Jablanovic, is one such rare gem. This German documentary follows the life of Armin Zeitler, a man who embarks on the complex and emotionally fraught journey of transitioning into a woman. Over a period of three years, the filmmakers accompany Armin, who takes the name Katja upon her transition, documenting not just the physical and social changes but also delving into the psychological and emotional challenges she faces in a society that struggles to understand and accept such a profound transformation.
The film is far more than a mere documentation of gender reassignment surgery. It is a window into the struggles, hopes, and psychological turmoil of someone trying to reconcile their inner identity with the world around them. Through intimate, unflinching scenes, Lichtvögel presents a narrative that examines the person behind the transition, rather than reducing her to a clinical process of change. In doing so, it sheds light on the complexities of human identity, societal expectations, family dynamics, and the resilience required to challenge them.
2011,
German,
Germany,
Katja Zeitler,
Producer: RTL2
Release Year: 2012
Synopsis:
"Transgender - Mein Weg in den richtigen Körper" (2012) is a compelling and deeply personal documentary series aired on RTL2 that follows the lives of several transgender individuals at different stages of their transition. Over the course of 14 episodes across two seasons, viewers are introduced to a diverse group of transgender men and women who are navigating the complex and often challenging journey of gender reassignment. The show provides an intimate look at the physical, emotional, and social challenges that come with transitioning, as well as the support, struggles, and victories that accompany the process.
From hormone treatments to gender-affirming surgeries, from familial conflicts to moments of self-acceptance, Transgender - Mein Weg in den richtigen Körper offers an unflinching portrayal of the transgender experience. Each episode dives deep into the personal stories of its protagonists, highlighting the obstacles they face, the relationships they build, and the triumphs they achieve as they move closer to becoming their authentic selves.
Each individual featured in Transgender - Mein Weg in den richtigen Körper is on a unique journey toward aligning their body with their gender identity. The series covers a broad spectrum of experiences, from those who are just beginning their transition to those who are approaching the final stages, including those undergoing surgery and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). For many of these transgender individuals, the journey is not just about physical changes but also about navigating the complexities of family relationships, societal expectations, and personal growth.
2012,
German,
Germany,
Josephine Jochmann,
Josimelonie,
Sasa Trifunovic,
