transgender – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

LITTLE GIRL – Review by Leslie Combemale

September 9, 2021September 11, 2021 Leslie Combemale documentaries, french films, Little Girl, Sébastien Lifshitz, transgender

If people who are less understanding of trans rights see this film, it has the potential to shift belief and possibly reverse a lot of outdated laws. That would be a gift and blessing to kids finding challenges now, but even more future kids who won’t have to struggle needlessly as they grow. Of course the film is subjective, as it aims to change a lot of hearts, and attempts to do so through experience rather than statistics, but if the definition of great art is that it elicits compassion and understanding, Little Girl qualifies.

Reviews

JULIA SCOTTI: FUNNY THAT WAY – Review by Susan Wloszczyna

June 16, 2021June 17, 2021 Susan Wloszczyna documentaries, Julia Scotti: Funny That Way, stand up comedians, Susan Sandler, transgender, transwoman

A funny thing happened when Susan Sandler, the Golden Globe nominated screenwriter behind the 1988 film Crossing Delancey, went to a comedy club in 2015. She witnessed a set performed by a 60-something older trans-woman whose stand-up persona has been described as a cross between a shouty, profane Sam Kinison and huggable Mrs. Doubtfire. She and Scotti hit it off at the bar, so much so that Sandler was inspired to become a first-time director so she could share this ex-Jersey boy’s endearingly poignant journey that allowed this funny lady to embrace her own inner female self.

Movie of the Week Reviews

MOVIE OF THE WEEK February 12, 2021: COWBOYS

February 7, 2021February 19, 2021 awfj-admin ann dows, Anna Kerrigan, betsy bozdech, Cate Marquis, COWBOYS, jennifer merin, Jillian bell, leslie combemale, liz whittemore, loren king, marina antunes, maryann johanson, motw, Movie of the Week, Pam Grady, sandie angulo chen, sasha knight, STEVE SAHN, transgender

The consequences of denying your loved ones the right to live authentically plays out in dramatic fashion in Cowboys, writer/director Anna Kerrigan’s moving film about a family in crisis. Starring the talented Steve Zahn and Jillian Bell as Troy and Sally, the divorced parents of 10-year-old transgender boy Jo (Sasha Knight), the film ultimately shows the power of unconditional love and acceptance.

Reviews

COWBOYS – Review by Susan Wloszczyna

February 2, 2021February 7, 2021 Susan Wloszczyna ann dows, Anna Kerrigan, COWBOYS, Jillian bell, motw, Movie of the Week, sasha knight, STEVE SAHN, transgender

Cowboys takes place in Big Sky Country amid the glorious mountainous terrain of Montana. But the Western tale it tells

Reviews

MARKIE IN MILWAUKEE – Review by Diane Carson

November 23, 2020November 30, 2020 Diane Carson documentaries, Markie Ann Wenzel, Markie in Milwaukee, Matt Kliegman, transgender

Markie Ann Wenzel is a courageous and, for a significant period of time, conflicted individual for several reasons fully and frankly on display in director Matt Kliegman’s documentary Markie in Milwaukee. Beginning May 13, 2013, on Milwaukee’s South Side, Markie Ann faces a monumental decision. Born a man, will he continue his transition to becoming a woman.

Movie of the Week Reviews

MOVIE OF THE WEEK August 25, 2020: LINGUA FRANCA

August 22, 2020August 28, 2020 Jennifer Merin 0 Comments betsy bozdech, Cate Marquis, Eamon Farren, isabel sandoval, ivory aquino, jennifer merin, kathia woods, leslie combemale, lingua franca, liz whittemore, loren king, lynn cohen, maryann johanson, motw, Movie of the Week, nikki baughan, Pam Grady, sandie angulo chen, susan wloszczyna, transgender

In telling the story of undocumented transgender Filipina caregiver Olivia, writer/director/actress Isabel Sandoval’s quietly powerful drama Lingua Franca calls attention to an issue that too many people find easy to dismiss as not their concern. And it does so with empathy and humanity, hopefully opening hearts and minds before the credits roll.

Interviews

Isabel Sandoval on LINGUA FRANCA, Aesthetics and Political Acts – Leslie Combemale interviews

August 21, 2020August 21, 2020 Leslie Combemale 0 Comments Eamon Farren, isabel sandoval, ivory aquino, lingua franca, lynn cohen, motw, Movie of the Week, transgender

Isabel Sandoval has created a subtle, sensual story that goes beyond the trans narratives released by largely white, male, cis-gendered mainstream directors of today. Her film Lingua Franca is a relationship-based tale that follows trans Filipina Olivia in her struggle to find some joy and live her life authentically as a caregiver in Brighton Beach, while trying to secure a green card.

Reviews

THE GARDEN LEFT BEHIND – Review by Diane Carson

June 24, 2020June 25, 2020 Diane Carson 0 Comments Carlie Guevara, ed asner, Flovio Alves, the garden left bhind, transgender, women of color

The narrative poignantly explores the complex psychological world of trans women of color, depicting profound, lived-in experiences. Director Flovio Alves cast only trans actors in all the trans roles. Carlie Guevara, in her first feature film, holds the screen with charisma.

Reviews

SEAHORSE: THE DAD WHO GAVE BIRTH – Review by Martha K Baker

June 24, 2020June 26, 2020 Martha K. Baker 0 Comments documentaries, freddy mcconnell, Jeanie Finlay, Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth, transgender

At 30, Britisher Freddy McConnell chose to have a child. He is transgender, so he had to stop his female-to-male hormone treatments to return to being female in order to conceive and deliver. McConnell, a freelance journalist, felt responsible for telling his story. So he invited The Guardian, the newspaper where he worked, into the production and Jeanie Finlay to direct the process.

Reviews

SEAHORSE: THE DAD WHO GAVE BIRTH – Review by Leslie Combemale

June 10, 2020June 14, 2020 Leslie Combemale 0 Comments documentaries, Freddie McConnell, Jeanie Finlay, Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth, transgender

In Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth, documentary filmmaker Jeanie Finlay gets full access to the experience of transgender parental-hopeful Freddie McConnell. Freddie navigates acting on the commitment to have his first child biologically, by preparing his body and mind to allow for pregnancy, and going through what only a transgender man might experience in doing so.

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"#TheLostKing is far from perfect but it is witty, vaguely edifying, and very British." @LizBraunSun reviews director Stephen Frears' latest, starring the always luminous Sally Hawkins: https://awfj.org/blog/2023/03/18/the-lost-king-review-by-liz-braun/

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ICYMI: @MarBarFu brings us #AWFJ's weekly look at movies made by and about women. For March 20-26, here's a run down of what's hitting theatres or streaming: https://awfj.org/blog/2023/03/18/opening-march-20-to-26-2023-margaret-barton-fumo-reports/

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Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Smoczyńska‘s #Fugue is finally getting a long-overdue limited US cinema release. Our own @suspirialex takes a look at this portrait of a woman in crisis: https://awfj.org/blog/2023/03/20/fugue-review-by-alexandra-heller-nicholas/

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We had to wait decades for Nicolas Cage's very first western (Butcher's Crossing) but then only 1 year for his second - #TheOldWays. @susangranger reviews the latest from @PrimeVideo: https://awfj.org/blog/2023/03/20/the-old-ways-review-by-susan-granger/

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"Documentary-like in its candor, [#TheWorstOnes] is also touchingly tender as it captures a memorable summer in its characters’ lives." Our Movie of the Week (#MOTW) team reviews the #Cannes2022 #UnCertainRegard winner from Lise Akoka & Romane Gueret: https://awfj.org/blog/2023/03/18/movie-of-the-week-march-24-2023-the-worst-ones/

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