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.
Producer: Michael D. Brewer
Release Year: 2013
Full title: In Full Bloom... transcending gender
Synopsis:
The 2012 documentary In Full Bloom, directed by Michael D. Brewer, takes viewers on an intimate and transformative journey into the lives of 15 actors—13 transgender individuals and 2 gay men—whose personal stories are woven into the fabric of a unique theatrical production. The film chronicles the making of Lovely Bouquet of Flowers, a groundbreaking stage play created by playwright and performer Jazzmun Nichcala, and directed by David Hays Gaddas. In Full Bloom is not just a behind-the-scenes look at the production of a play, but a raw and moving exploration of gender, identity, sexuality, and the human experience.
At the heart of In Full Bloom lies the confluence of art and life. The documentary offers an unflinching look at the actors' personal experiences, capturing moments of joy, struggle, vulnerability, and triumph. The 15 performers, who come from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences, each bring their own story to the production of Lovely Bouquet of Flowers. This play, described as unprecedented in its representation of transgender and LGBTQ+ narratives, becomes a platform for these actors to explore their identities in a way that is rarely seen in mainstream theater or film.
The documentary intertwines behind-the-scenes footage of rehearsals with clips from the climactic performance of the play. Through this structure, In Full Bloom allows the audience to see the actors not just as characters on stage, but as real people navigating the complexities of their lives, both on and off the stage. The result is a powerful juxtaposition of fiction and reality, where the actors' stories blend seamlessly into the themes of the play they are performing.
2013,
English,
Gizelle Messina,
Jazzmun Nichcala,
Jazzmun Nichcala Crayton,
Lana Houston,
Maria Roman,
Monika Kowalska,
Nadia Milan,
Nika Blackwell,
Rosalyne Blumenstein,
USA,
Director: Rosa von Praunheim
Release Year: 1996
Synopsis:
""Transsexual Menace (1996): A Groundbreaking Documentary by Rosa von Praunheim""
Released in 1996, "Transsexual Menace" (also known by its German title "Vor Transsexuellen wird gewarnt") by acclaimed filmmaker Rosa von Praunheim remains a landmark documentary that offers an intimate and provocative look at the transgender rights movement of the 1990s.
The film's title, inspired by the name of the activist group Transsexual Menace, speaks directly to the politically charged atmosphere of the time, highlighting the rise of transgender visibility and advocacy. With its candid portrayal of transgender individuals asserting their identities, demanding legal rights, and challenging social prejudices, the film serves as both a historical document and a work of social activism.
1996,
German,
Monika Kowalska,
Riki Wilchins,
Rosalyne Blumenstein,
Director: T. Joe Murray
Release Year: 2006
Synopsis:
In the documentary "Almost Myself" (2006), filmmaker T. Joe Murray embarks on a remarkable journey to explore the complexities of transgender identity, centering the film around an unusual and poignant story that challenges conventional assumptions about gender transition. The film is a rare and deeply human exploration of the transgender experience, featuring key figures such as Judy Kirchner, Rosalyne Blumenstein, Marci Bowers, Holly Boswell, and Kate Bornstein. By focusing on a wide range of perspectives, "Almost Myself" takes a compassionate and unflinching look at the struggles, challenges, and joys faced by transgender individuals, while also highlighting the diversity of experiences within the transgender community.
The origin of "Almost Myself" is grounded in an intriguing discovery. While conducting web research for a potential project, Murray stumbled upon a website titled “Help Me Reverse My Sex Change dot ORG.” The website, created and operated by Judy Kirchner, a transgender woman, became the central focus of Murray’s documentary. Kirchner had transitioned from male to female in her twenties and had lived for nearly two decades as a woman. However, as she approached her 40th birthday, she made the controversial and deeply personal decision to reverse her sex change.
This decision, and the website’s call for financial help to reverse the surgery, set in motion Murray's journey into the transgender community. The very existence of the website immediately piqued Murray’s curiosity, raising numerous questions: Why would someone undergo a gender transition and later decide to reverse it? What does it mean to live as one gender and then seek to return to another? The documentary was thus born out of a desire to understand this decision and, by extension, the broader transgender experience.
2006,
English,
Holly Boswell,
Kate Bornstein,
Marci Bowers,
Monika Kowalska,
Rosalyne Blumenstein,
USA,
