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: Flavio Florencio
Release Year: 2015
Synopsis:
Made in Bangkok, directed by Flavio Florencio, is a powerful documentary that chronicles the journey of Morganna Love, a transgender soprano, actress, beauty queen, and activist from Mexico. This film is not merely a narrative of transformation; it is an exploration of the complexities of identity, societal stigma, and the pursuit of dignity. Morganna's journey embodies the struggles faced by many transgender individuals as they seek to affirm their identity in a world often fraught with prejudice.
Morganna Love's passion for music and opera began at a young age.
In an interview with Monika Kowalska for her blog Heroines of My Life, she recalls a pivotal moment at the age of 18 when her parents took her to a concert featuring Allegri's Miserere. The experience was transformative, igniting her desire to become an opera singer. This moment of epiphany set the stage for her future, leading her to the National Music Conservatory in Mexico, where she pursued formal training in singing and music theory.
Morganna’s journey to becoming a professional opera singer reflects her determination and dedication. She describes her ambition to be the best countertenor in Mexico, and through hard work, she achieved this goal. This early dedication to her craft laid the foundation for her future successes in opera and beyond.
2015,
Monika Kowalska,
Morganna Love,
Spanish,
Director: Dacia Saenz & Sara McCaslin
Release Year: 2014
Synopsis:
The Cost of Gender (2014) by Dacia Saenz and Sara McCaslin is a poignant documentary that sheds light on the intersection of gender, health care, and migration, focusing on the transgender community in the United States and their search for affordable, compassionate care in Thailand. The film explores the barriers transgender Americans face within their own healthcare systems, particularly the systemic discrimination and limited access to gender-affirming treatments.
By sharing the personal stories of individuals like Rev. Carla Robinson, an Episcopal pastor in Seattle, and Morgana Love, an opera singer from Mexico City, the documentary reveals how the high cost of transgender healthcare in the U.S. pushes many to seek surgery and medical care in Thailand—where these services are more affordable and often more accessible.
2014,
Carla Robinson,
English,
Monika Kowalska,
Morganna Love,
Thailand,
USA,
