Related Posts
It’s the month of June, which means Pride Month has come yet again. With much of the LGBTQ community using this month to celebrate their accomplishments and push for further progress in a large number of LGBTQ issues, it’s a common practice for many to seek out media that gives such people the proper representation they deserve. In commemoration of Pride Month, World Wide Motion Pictures has chosen to spotlight one letter in LGBTQ – the T for “trans”. While transgender people do not necessarily fall into the same category as gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals, as being trans relates to gender identity while the other three relate to sexual orientation. While they are far and few between, there are still plenty of films that effectively capture the trans experience and make for compelling narratives. Here are some of the ones that we enjoy best:
Paris is Burning (1990) – considering most of the transgender individuals depicted in film are white, it’s refreshing to see a film that puts the spotlight on trans people of color. This documentary from director Jennie Livingston follows the lives of several different black and Latinx people of varying gender identities, bringing to light the struggles they regularly face, from the AIDS crisis to all forms of bigotry. It’s by no means a pleasant experience from beginning to end – in fact, one of the subjects was murdered before the film’s release – but its determination to show transgender in an authentic and identifiable manner make the film a landmark in the depiction of trans people in film.
The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (1994) – the terms “trans woman”, “transvestite”, and “drag queen” tend to get lumped together despite them having very different definitions. This Australian film helps get those differences across through its three main characters, each of which can be considered one of those three previously stated terms. As it follows these characters on their journey throughout Australia and the crazy events they get involved in, the film finds a way to incorporate comedy and a light heart into its narrative while still addressing the serious issues that its main characters face as a result of their gender identities, issues that many real life trans individuals face on a regular basis.
Wild Side (2004) – although the narrative itself is fictional, there’s still a strong sense of realism to be found in the performance of Stéphanie Michelini, who at the time was not a professional actor but is an actual trans woman. Through her portrayal of the sex worker also named Stéphanie, Michelini elevates this French film about the double life its central protagonist lives, one that contrasts her strained relationship with her mother to the three-way romance she engages in with her two flatmates. The impressionistic and non-chronological structure of the film’s story may take some time to comprehend, but the struggles that Stéphanie faces in her life should not be the least bit hard for anyone to understand and relate to.
Strella (2009) – having premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, this Greek film has since been included at various film festivals and even found success at numerous European awards ceremonies, and those who have seen the film can affirm that this work of cinema is worthy of such recognition. Following the romance between its titular character, a trans woman who works as a prostitute, and the ex-convict she falls in love with, the film quickly becomes an intense thriller as both characters’ pasts begin to catch back up to them, and the two are forced to go on the run if they are to be together. Like the previous entry, this film also casts an inexperienced trans woman, Mina Orfanou, in the lead role, but still manages to give her just the right material to allow her to pull off a performance no less compelling than any professional.
Pop Kowboy (2012) – one of the many quality films distributed by World Wide Motion Pictures, this comedic homage to the western and gangster genres finds a way to generate humor involving one of its main characters, a trans woman, without coming across as offensive or condescending. With this exploration of the crossing paths of a wannabe cowboy hero, a trans woman looking to start a new life for herself, and a gangster who’s just one failure away from facing the wrath of his employer, the film is able to draw attention to the many issues trans people feel on a regular basis, but still manages to do so in a way that doesn’t undermine the comedic undertones of its premise. Hilarious and heartfelt, this is a great watch for those seeking strong trans representation and some clever send-ups on various genres on the side.
Boy Meets Girl (2014) – even with the amount of progress made over the years, a romantic comedy that stars a transgender character and has a happy ending still seems like a pipe dream for many. Yet such an idea is not only possible, but already exists in the form of this rom-com-drama that centers around Ricky, a young trans woman who leaves her small Kentucky town and moves to New York City. There she meets Francesca, whom Ricky takes a liking to despite her already being engaged to a military man. One can easily feel the dread that Ricky experiences through this seemingly unattainable romance, but rather than succumb to tragedy, this film does the opposite and allows its protagonist to have the happy ending she and many other trans people deserve.
Tangerine (2015) – as the majority of its events take place over the course of a single Christmas Eve, one could almost make an argument that this film, shot entirely on iPhone smartphones, would be an appropriate watch during the holiday season, although its subject matter couldn’t have anything less to do with this particular time of year. What the film does present, however, is a harrowing tale of revenge and friendship, as it follows two trans women – the fierce Sin-Dee and the more subtle Alexandra – as they set out to locate the cisgender women with whom Sin-Dee’s partner/pimp has been having an affair with. With the two main characters being played by actual trans sex workers, Kitana Kiki Rodriguez and Mya Taylor, there’s never a doubt that the leads are anything less than real, fully fleshed out people, resulting in a series comedic escapades that entertain but never at the expense of these characters’ gender identities.
