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Transparent (film)

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Transparent
Directed byJules Rosskam
Produced byJules Rosskam Anat Salomon
Edited byJules Rosskam
Distributed byMamSir Productions
Running time
61 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Transparent is a 2005 documentary film written, directed, and produced by Jules Rosskam. Its title is a play on the words “trans” and “parent” implying the invisibility of transgender parenting in society today. The documentary follows 19 female-to-male transsexuals from 14 different states who have given birth to, and in most cases, gone on to raise, their biological children and the challenges they face while transitioning.

The film is most well-known for its viewing at the Cineffable Film Festival in October 2006, Paris’s International Lesbian and Feminist Festival, and was featured in the September 2006 issue of Curve magazine as one of the Ten Must-See Gender Documentaries, represented as one of the best examples of New Trans Cinema alongside well-known films such as Transamerica, Boys Don't Cry and Soldier's Girl.[1]

Plot

Transparent follows the lives of 19 female-to-male transsexuals as they recall their encounters giving birth to and raising children while transitioning. For most, they did not view it as a weird concept to explain to their kids, especially at a young age, because none of the politics had to go into their explanation, they could simply state the facts and the children were accepting of that. For example, the common explanation to their children was that they were “born with a girl body but a boy heart.” In addition, they still felt as though they were their child’s mother because biologically, they were, they just were no longer a mother figure. However, most of them were still being referred to by their child as “mom”.

Although most of them were in agreement about the issues discussed, the topic of how they felt during pregnancy was a little different. Some felt that it was the only time they felt right with their bodies and they enjoyed the experience overall, while others felt humiliated and like it was a slap in the face – concrete evidence this wasn’t who they really were.

Cast

  • Matt (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Ricky (Oakland, CA)
  • Andrew (Butlerville, IN)
  • Kosse (Westfield, MA)
  • Nick (Denver, CO)
  • Matthew (Topeka, KA)
  • Dan (Lincoln, NE)
  • Terry (Lawton, OK)
  • Kim (Longmont, CO)
  • Raven (Hubbardston, MA)
  • Alex (DC Area)
  • Rene (Ft. Collins, CO)
  • Brandon (Oakland, CA)
  • Jay (Dayton, OH)
  • Logan (Birmingham, AL)
  • Joey (Dallas, TX)
  • Jarek (St. Louis, MO)
  • Justin (Brooklyn, NY)
  • Thomas (Weed, CA)

Production

MamSir Productions and directed, produced, and edited by Jules Rosskam with the help of Anat Salomon, Transparent was also contributed to with footage by Dyke TV, the Gavin-Smyth Family, and Evan Schwartz. Additional Thanks to: Lani Lacovelli, Elizabeth Cline, Elizabeth McCarthy, Anezka Sebek, Sam Feder, Lori Barrett, Chris Baronofski, Marilyn and Skip Rosskam, Tristan Taormino, Bennington College, In the Life Media, the New York City Trans Community, and the Leslie Lohman Gay Art Foundation. Special thanks to: Alex Fox, Andrew Kelley, Brandon Wolfe, Dan Franks, Jay Moore, Jarek Steele, Joey Vasques, Justin Cascio, Kim R Lee, Kosse Feral, Logan England, Matt Rice, Matthew York, Nick Sarchet, Raven Kaldera, Rene Hickman, Ricky Levya, Terry Siegrist, Thomas More II, Anat Salomon, Desi del Valle. Donors: Merle and Steve Rosskam, Marilyn and Skip Rosskam, The Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance, Emily Walker, Pam and Michale Burger, Nancy Shrier, Lani Lacovelli, Tim Carey, Kim R Lee, John and Bonney Teare.

In the media

Transgender topics are not often projected in the media, especially in films. In the years following this documentary, however, it has become a more recognized topic through shows such as Orange Is the New Black and Amazon’s television show Transparent. In addition, more trans-activists are stepping forward in the media, with Laverne Cox being one of the most well-known, as she humanizes the face of the transgender experience.

Screenings

2009:

  • Manchester Pride Film Festival

2008:

  • Kansai Queer Film Festival (Japan)
  • WTTW Public Broadcasting (Chicago)

2007:

  • Out and Equal Workplace Summit
  • Vancouver Queer Film and Video Festival
  • The Netherlands Transgender Film Festival
  • Fairytales Film Festival
  • Athens LGBT film Festival
  • Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
  • Freiburger Lesbenfilmtage
  • National Women's Studies Association Conference
  • Munich Women's Filmfest Bimovie
  • WPIRG Rainbow Reel Film Festival
  • Lesbisch Schwule Filmtage Hamburg
  • Image + Nation
  • Paris Lesbian Film Festival

2006:

  • Hamburg International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
  • 1st annual Warsaw LGBT Film Festival
  • North Carolina LGBT Film Festival
  • Pink Days Amsterdam
  • Paris Feminist Film Festival
  • Northwestern University
  • Lesgaicinemadrid Film Festival 2006
  • Guelph International Film Festival
  • Lisbon Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
  • Glasgay! Film Festival
  • Tel Aviv LGBT Film Festival
  • Florence Queer Film Festival
  • Inside/Out Festival Toronto
  • London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
  • Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center

2005:

  • Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance
  • Mardis Gras Film Festival
  • The Pioneer Theater
  • Reeling: Chicago LGBT Film Festival
  • Outfest
  • Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
  • NewFest
  • San Francisco International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

Awards and nominations

  • 1st annual Warsaw LGBT Film Festival: Best New Film
  • Inside/Out Festival Toronto: Best Documentary

References

  1. ^ Press about Transparent, Transparent official site
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