4 Critically Acclaimed Transgender Films You Must See
For Transgender Day of Visibility, we’re dedicating this week’s post to celebrating transgender representation in film and acknowledging the prejudices transgender people experience with a list of four films depicting diverse trans experiences.
Image via: A Fantastic Woman
It had been at least a few years since I last saw some of these movies, and I wanted them fresh on my mind. So, I decided to re-watch them before writing this. It was eye-opening to consume these films back to back, to see so many repetitious themes. The disheartening ones: stigma, secrecy, and oppression. But also the good: real love, friendship, and the power of being yourself.
Films are a visceral way to learn about the life experiences of others. These movies demonstrate how difficult it is for transgender people who simply just want to be themselves in the world. You also come to empathize with their difficult intrapersonal experiences once they’re alone, returning from an unaccepting world. Yet, beyond these difficulties, there is always triumph or celebration in some form. So, without further ado, I’m delighted to share these transgender stories with you — and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
4 Critically Acclaimed Transgender Films You Must See:
Tangerine (2015)
A Fantastic Woman (2017)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Ma Vie en Rose (1997)
1. Tangerine (2015)
vIDEO:tANGERINE trAILER
First on the list is Tangerine, which comes to us from the talented writer-director (and editor) Sean Baker. It’s a gritty seriocomic following Sin-Dee and her best friend Alexandra, two transgender sex workers living in LA. The movie takes place over Christmas Eve day just after Sin-Dee is released from a stint in jail and is suddenly on a mission to confront her pimp.
This film is one of my favorites. Baker has such a good eye for putting underrepresented people and the social realities of our time on screen. He’s been given huge kudos for Tangerine’s realistic depiction of Hollywood’s underbelly and community. And lastly, on a more technical level, the film is considered quite masterful, having been shot entirely on a iPhone 5S!
GIF:Tangerine
Already seen this one? Check out this conversation with lead characters Mya and Kitana not long after the film was released.
2. A Fantastic Woman (2017)
vIDEO: A Fantastic Woman trAILER
With this film, we learn that even far outside the stereotypes of a sex worker, transgender women still face oppression. The movie A Fantastic Woman portrays Marina's heart wrenching experience as a transgender woman who has just lost the love of her life. It's a must-see performance by Chilean transgender actress Daniela Vega. We're not only torn by her painful loss but by the way Marina is outcasted during such an awful time simply for who she is.
I also must mention the film's incredible soundtrack. It has this sad, drifty breeziness that sort of feels like an umbrella tumbling away from you in the wind – except what's happening is a real-life tragedy. It's a terribly devastating yet beautiful film.
Saw this one? Read about how A Fantastic Woman came to life.
3. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
vIDEO:Dog Day Afternoon trAILER
Based on the actual events, Dog Day Afternoon is not your average queer/trans film. Sonny, played by Al Pacino, is an inexperienced criminal who attempts a bank robbery in Brooklyn, NY. But soon, everything falls apart. What was supposed to be an in-and-out stickup turns into an all-day standoff with the police. Before long, we find out the motivation behind Sonny's botched robbery. The movie received six Oscar nominations, winning Best Screenplay.
Though it’s a bit off-beat because the focus isn't entirely on a transgender character, this film highlights real-life struggles that LGBTQIA+ people face and a historical look at some of the difficult choices they made to navigate their truth.
Learn about the real people behind these events.
4. Ma Vie en Rose (1997)
vIDEO: Ma Vie en Rose trAILER
"Ma Vie en Rose" is French for My Life in Pink. This film tells the story of Ludovic, a seven-year-old ‘boy’ who asserts that he is a girl. We see Ludovic attempting to make sense of her situation and what others are telling her throughout the film, referring to herself as a “girl-boy.” It's a hard look at the thoughts and feelings of transgender children searching for explanations about who they are in a world with little wiggle room for differences.
I watched this film for the first time this year. Though it does show its age in several ways, I kept interested in how the script focuses on the fragility of our social norms and the various motivations and struggles each character faces. I do recommend a watch (even if just to see Ludovic happier than ever in this stunning get-up below).
Gif: Ma Vie en Rose
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