LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
CAMP Film: |
by Joe Bilancio |
The Forgotten "T" We are all familiar with the acronym GLBT and its association with the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender communities. And while most of us would like to be fully inclusive of all the components, the transgender community is often under-represented. Cinematically, the transgender community has often been marginalized and has rarely been depicted as anything more than a caricature. Listed below are some of the recent films, both narrative features and documentaries, that utilize transgender or transsexual characters or issues. In the Switzerland/France Co-production, Thelma, after fighting with her lover, a beautiful woman, Thelma, escapes into a taxi where she meets Vincent, a retired boxing champ who is in trouble for not making his child support payments. Thelma offers to pay him to accompany her to Crete, where she plans to findand exact revenge onher estranged lover. He agrees, and so they set off along a picturesque coastline. Their casual flirting intensifies, leading to a sexual encounter where Vincent learns that Thelma is transsexual. Confused by his contradictory feelings of attraction and repulsion, Vincent tries to turn back, but discovers that his concern for Thelma overwhelms his desire to leave her. As they continue their journey, more secrets are revealed along with the complex humanity of both leading characters. Gender Bias from France is a unique detective thriller, replete with unexpected plot twists. Bo, a beautiful, young transsexual with a troubled past, becomes entangled with a nosey Police Chief as a series of demented killings erupts in Brussels' underground. Each murder and its surrounding circumstances are inexplicably linked to Bo, and it's this cinematic cadence that drives the film. Robinson Stvenin's (who plays Bo) stunning performance earned him the 2002 Cesar Award (the French equivalent to an Oscar) for Best New Actor. His tender and unaffected interpretation of the role is mesmerizing for its simple and truthful portrayal. His on-screen presence lends a magnetic pull that's difficult to deny. Exploring territory typically offered from other reputable directors like Pedro Almodovar, Girod's Gender Bias is a murder mystery set in a fascinating underground world populated by transgender prostitutes, sketchy cops, drug-running rough-trade thugs, and troubled runaways. Seemingly everyone has a clandestine history in his/her emotionally and physically buried pastsa setup that evokes a series of twists and turns that makes this a crime thriller that shines far brighter than most, in my mind. The documentary genre is often the best place to see true-to-life depiction of Transgender/Transexual issues, and there are some great new ones to keep an eye out for. Venus Boyz thrusts the viewer into a world of sexy, subversive and very talented Drag Kings and Tranny Boys. Women become mensome for a night and others for a lifetime. All of the performers speak candidly about the issue of transforming gender. From New York to London to Berlin, kings transform lustfully into their male alter egos, creating characters that parody male sexuality and power. The film is an odyssey defying all preconceptions of what is male and what is female to probe the richness of what it means to be human. Georgie Girl is the story of Georgina Beyer, a Maori transsexual and former sex worker, who was elected into the New Zealand government by a largely white rural electorate, making her a world first. Intercut throughout the story are scenes from a day-in-the-life of Georgina Beyer, that reflect her multiple identity as regional politician, Maori and Transgendered. She appears comfortable judging sheep races, attending the Ratana Church to discuss Government policy, and riding on a float through the HERO parade. The Opposite Sex: Rene's Story is the moving portrait of Rene Pena, a Female-to-Male preoperative transgendered person who, since the age of three, has been living life as a man. Growing up with his single mother who left an abusive marriage, and an older brother who demanded he be more like a girl, Rene has now reached a pivotal moment as he awaits the operation he has wanted his whole life. Frank and honest discussions with his mother and girlfriend provide remarkable insight into the relationships that have shaped Rene. The film explores behaviors ranging from intolerance to acceptance and presents a personal journey towards wholeness. Joe Bilancio is Programming Director for the Rehoboth Beach Film Society. He may be reached at Joe@rehobothfilm.com. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 13, No.9, July 11, 2003 |