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: 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: 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,
