-
Transgenderism in Film – your comments please
Thought I would start a thread concerning Transgenderism in film. Feel free to add your own comments regarding any films listed, and let us all know about any other TG related films…
I will kick things off:
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedwig_and_the_Angry_Inch
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0248845/
I only just saw this last week, and loved it.
Based on an off-Broadway musical of the same name, the story manages to tackle some fairly tough subject matter with style and aplomb. John Cameron Mitchell absolutely shines as the protagonist, and actually turns in a tour de force in the directors chair as well. From the colorful sets and costumes, to the fantastic musical score, this film manages to engage it’s audience at a constant heightened sense, whilst not coming across as too preachy or alienating. Whilst the overlying theme is definitely TG, the film slowly morphs into a story of finding ones true inner (and consequently outer) self, a journey that people from all walks of life can relate to. The final scene hit me the hardest, delivering in stark contrast to the rest of the film, a very raw, brave and honest conclusion…
A must see!
****
-
34 Replies
-
A couple of quick ones that spring to mind:
Glen or Glenda- horrendous production and plot, but heart in the right spot.
Just Like a Woman- totally unlikeable protaganist, but nice shot of the community. And great karaoke scene!
Kinky Boots- actually pretty good for both mainstream and tranny viewpoints.
A Little Bit of Lippy- saw this one when I was about 14…haunted me for years. Thank God for Ebay. See it if you can.Any others?
Sara -
there ares some good ones now..
Soldiers girl. great film, scary ending.(About Calpernia Addams)
Different for girls.. crittically acclaimed.. didnt sell.(english film)
A girl like me. the gwen Araujo story.these three all deal with TS themes pretty exclusively, and sympathetically I think. wonder what everyone else thinks?
*EMMA*
-
Quote:Glen or Glenda- horrendous production and plot, but heart in the right spot.
Ooooh! By Ed Wood, the best worst movie director ever!!
That reminds me:
Ed Wood
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Wood_(film)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109707/
My favourite Tim Burton film, starring the gorgeous Johnny Depp, one of my favourite actors.
This film is basically a biopic on the director Edward D. Wood Jr, who is responsible for some of the most horrendous movies ever committed to screen, including Plan 9 From Outer Space. He also happened to be a crossdresser! One of his first films, “Glen or Glenda” which Sara pointed out, broached this very aspect of his life.
The film is a hilarious, honest and raw view into Ed Woods abnormal world, and everything from the superb direction, to the fantastically surreal soundtrack (Composed by Howard Shore, and featuring a Theremin!) is top notch. The real strength of the film lies in the acting though, with Johnny Depp turning in a career defining performance (Who would have thought that he could look so cute in a blonde wig, skirt and Angora sweater!!), and resulting in Martin Landau receiving an Academy Award for best supporting actor, for his magnifiecent portrayal of Bela Lugosi.
A must see…
*****
-
Switch (1991)
A male chauvinist dies and is reincarnated as a woman, thereby forcing him/her to endure the same sexist behavior he practiced as a man.
Very good.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/video/images/muze/dvd/sm/91/169391.jpg%5B/img%5D
-
Boys don’t Cry
Based on the real life of Brandon Teena, an FtM transsexual viciously murdered when ‘friends’ discover his transsexuality. This is not a movie that will lift your spirits, in fact it is a dark and horrifying look at the prejudice that transsexuals face. If you aren’t crying by the end, you can not be human (my opinion only!)
Cinematically this is a very well directed and acted piece of film. Whilst the overall story is horrifying, the script is first class. Unlike Tranamerica where a woman plays an MtF, in this movie a woman takes on the role of the FtM Brandon so wonderfully. Hillary Swank is amazing and so totally convincing in this role.
-
Breakfast on Pluto
This is a wonderful movie following Patrick “Kitten” Braden through life in the 60’s and 70’s. Too good to spoil with any further descriptions. Get it out and watch it!!
-
miss lina … what a fab topic!
favourites of mine include …
myra beckenridge starring raquel welch as a man playing a woman. no hue and cry from the tg community about that one!
then there is
some like it hot (i do 😉 ) starring marilyn monroe as a woman playing a woman wearing woman’s clothes (i can sort of relate to that) …
and there is one that is not a great favourite of mine …
victor/victoria which stars julie andrews, who, i personally think was waaaay better in sound of music … but that’s me. she stars as a man playing a woman too!
and let’s not forget …
the rocky horror show with tim curry in torn fishnets (nope, i can’t relate to that at all ….) and meatloaf (but not in fishnets, unfortunately)
then of course there was
lassie which starred a female collie playing a boy collie. and you thought the human kingdom was confusing …
in fact, if you search *transgender* on imdb, you get 460 hits! some interesting titles – harsh beauty, superstar in a housedress, it’s a boy girl thing, you don’t know dick: courageus hearts of transexual men, flower arranging for beginners.
ahhh … so many movies … so little time …
oh! and ps: let’s not forget lee tamahori … who didn’t exactly make transgender movies, but sure played in a transgender movie or two of his own in real life … not that there’s anything wrong with that …
-
Quote:Switch (1991)
A male chauvinist dies and is reincarnated as a woman, thereby forcing him/her to endure the same sexist behavior he practiced as a man.
Very good.
http://shopping.yahoo.com/video/images/muze/dvd/sm/91/169391.jpg%5B/img%5D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switch_(film)
Oh I remember seeing that quite some time back! Quite well done, and I guess it loosely fits into what we are discussing. From memory it’s probably some of the best acting Jimmy Smits and Ellen Barkin have ever done…
Quote:Boys don’t Cry
Based on the real life of Brandon Teena, an FtM transsexual viciously murdered when ‘friends’ discover his transsexuality. This is not a movie that will lift your spirits, in fact it is a dark and horrifying look at the prejudice that transsexuals face. If you aren’t crying by the end, you can not be human (my opinion only!)
Cinematically this is a very well directed and acted piece of film. Whilst the overall story is horrifying, the script is first class. Unlike Tranamerica where a woman plays an MtF, in this movie a woman takes on the role of the FtM Brandon so wonderfully. Hillary Swank is amazing and so totally convincing in this role.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boys_Don't_Cry_(film)
Totally agree. Intense, superbly executed film. Hilary Swank definitely earned that Oscar…such a gutsy performance.
This “boy” did cry…
Quote:miss lina … what a fab topic!Thanx!
Quote:then of course there waslassie which starred a female collie playing a boy collie. and you thought the human kingdom was confusing …
LOL
-
All of the above plus…
NORMAL starring Jessica Lange and Tom Wilkinson
This is a very ‘normal’ looking film set in the bible belt mid west USA about a 40-something guy who announces to his wife and the local vicar that he wants to be a woman. What follows is a fairly well handled tale of her journey, including how to deal with her workmates at the local tractor factory! It’s a must-see for those who want to talk to their partners. Not a cliched as Transamerica (which I liked as well)
Another book to consider is one that I read as a teenager (a turning point?) called ‘Turnabout’ by Thorne Smith. The original husband and wife swap story. Published in the late 60s, it could be hard to find but some websites still offer it.
Love to all, Zenda
‘One is not born a woman, one becomes one’ Simone de Beauvoir
-
All those movies are Ok but they have had minimal impact compared to THE crossdressing powerhouse (only on the small screen though).
You know – the show that also brought us Kitten Kong.
I am talking of course about “The Goodies”.
Seriously though – a list of small screen TG shows would be cool also.
Luv and kisses
Hex -
[/quote]Ooooh! By Ed Wood, the best worst movie director ever!!
My favourite Tim Burton film, starring the gorgeous Johnny Depp, one of my favourite actors. [/quote]I don’t know how many are aware but Johnny Depp isn’t a stranger to dresses, in the television series 21 Jump Street there was an episode he appeared in wearing a dress and wig and looking very good too. Sorry, I don’t know how to add pictures here in the forum or I could show you.
Another famous c.d. actor was Christopher Morely in ‘Freebie and The Bean’, really attractive girl, in fact it wasn’t till the ending I realised that she was a he.
Another tele series was ‘Bosom Buddies’ starring Tom Hanks as a guy who has to dress as a woman to get a good apartment in the city, (what a brilliant and original idea!) . Rumour has it that Hanks has tried to buy up all the copies of this series.
For more info, try this site.
http://www.pagerealm.com/tiffmich/ -
Most comedy films use the transgendered character as either the source of all humour or the foil for the humour. Rarely is there a comedy film where the transgendered character isn’t even acknowledged as being transgendered. However there is at least one film that does exactly that.
Pyscho Beach Party is a film released in 2000 in the style of the 60’s surfing movies (most notably Gidget) and early 70’s horror/slasher movies. Charles Busch, writer of both the stage and screen versions, originally wrote the lead female role of ‘Chicklet’ to be played by himself in the stage production, however when the film was made he considered himself to old to play that role and instead played the role of the police captain Monica Stark. Neither of these roles are played up from the usual Hollywood transgender comedy theme, which is a refreshing thing.
Certainly this is a film that not every one will enjoy, I guess you just have to like this sort of thing, but I love it. Check it out.
-
Goodness – so many
some like it hot – Jack Lemmon & Tony Curtis running from gangland murderers join an all womens band. This is also known as Sugar on stageSpeaking of stage productions there is Shakespeare – say no more
Tootsie – Dustin Hoffman scores the lead role in a soapy – a part his g/f didnt get
To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar – Patrick Swayze (look great in drag) Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo are 3 drag queens that change a town when their car breaks down.
Yentl – Barbara Striesand – A jewish girl in a male dominant society can only get the education she craves if she goes to a males only school
So many but these come to mind as favourites
-
Apparently Bosum Buddies starring Tom Hanks has just been released on DVD. It only lasted one and a half seasons on the tube.
One of Tom Hanks very early movies, ‘Bachelor Party’ which is on DVD has a TG moment which is very good, won’t spoil it for those who haven’t seen it.
Karen
-
Quote:All those movies are Ok but they have had minimal impact compared to THE crossdressing powerhouse (only on the small screen though).
You know – the show that also brought us Kitten Kong.
I am talking of course about “The Goodies”.
Seriously though – a list of small screen TG shows would be cool also.
Luv and kisses
HexLOL
Quote:One of Tom Hanks very early movies, ‘Bachelor Party’ which is on DVD has a TG moment which is very good, won’t spoil it for those who haven’t seen it.Ha ha…oj yeah! I remember that now. A brief moment, but a classic, and SO funny…
