I recently saw this on NETFLIX and the last 20 minutes are as brilliant and moving as any film I've seen this year. Great screenplay, great performances from the two lead actresses.
10
The crux of the film as Ms. Darghis duly notes is the relationship between the two main characters. It's wonderfully detailed and touching. The other thing that makes this film enjoyable to watch is the color. LA in all it's trashiness portrayed in wide swaths of vibrant colors, which mirrors the colorful characters.
Yes, the sexuality is interesting, especially in how straight men are clients of the transgender women, but it is a screwball comedy, that holds together, especially the climax in the donut shop. Loved this film.
Yes, the sexuality is interesting, especially in how straight men are clients of the transgender women, but it is a screwball comedy, that holds together, especially the climax in the donut shop. Loved this film.
10
I really appreciate your review but wish you had used the term "sex workers" instead of "prostitutes" in your title! Prostitute is considered too simplistic and has a negative connotation. Sex work is an umbrella term that reflects the often fluid nature of these individual's income-making.
5
Just heard an excerpt from "Fresh Air" in which the characters in the movie describe biological, or should I say anatomical, women as fish.
Come on, people. stop the de-humanizing. I am not a fish. Yeah, I get it that this is a movie and this is the way some people talk but to the extent that this reflects attitudes in the TG community uh, no, this needs to stop. It seems we can treat everyone with respect and humanity and not use de-humanizing terms.
Come on, people. stop the de-humanizing. I am not a fish. Yeah, I get it that this is a movie and this is the way some people talk but to the extent that this reflects attitudes in the TG community uh, no, this needs to stop. It seems we can treat everyone with respect and humanity and not use de-humanizing terms.
6
Yeah, you're really a victim here.
24
The movie was a tad more graphic and raunchy than the NYT review led me to expect but I am happy I saw it.
1
Did anyone mention that is was shot completely on an iPhone?
did you read the review? yes, she specifically calls that out
5
Once again, the "bodies" trope (which apparently exists in only two shades -- "Black bodies" and "Brown bodies") trotted out as some sort of edgily meaningful insight. I'm aware that racial-studies pundits and academics are largely responsible for it, but it's still unspeakably dehumanizing to reduce a human being to a "body" as if they were property, isn't it?
4
"Putting femininity on or off" is something straight women have no problem with - not sure why it is surprising that tg women would do the same...
2
Just a minor correction, straight and transgender are not opposites. I suspect the term you're looking for is 'cisgender'. Straight refers to sexual orientation. Given that the women in this film are apparently attracted to men, I assume they are, in fact, straight.
8
Women may not have a problem with putting femininity on or off, but society sure does. If you don't believe me, look at the vicious coverage of Serena Williams "lack of femininity" or the terrible things people said about the great Jackie Joyner Kersee.
3
It's a shame that Dargis' review calls the men who are interested in transgender women, "nominally straight." This is case where the conventional wisdom is wrong. A man attracted to transgender women is most likely heterosexual. Homosexual men are generally not attracted to transgender women, because, News Flash, gay men are attracted to men, not women.
A transgender woman is not just a man in drag. Neither is she homosexual, unless she is attracted to other women, of course.
A transgender woman is not just a man in drag. Neither is she homosexual, unless she is attracted to other women, of course.
21
Unfortunately, sex and gender are even more complex. As a gay man, I have been attracted to transwomen (but not, so far, transmen), even though I am usually attracted to more conventional masculine men. The whole identity thing is full of holes and contradictions.
14
True. I know a couple gay men in relationships with a tg woman.
2
Aye, that initially put me off too, but I gather from the rest of the interview that was more of an accidental slip than an intentional slight.
Still, I think people need to put more thought into their writing when covering transgender topics. Its a topic that many aren't used to covering and so making offensive mistakes is all too easy, even for people who mean well.
You could argue that, technically, unless any interest in men is explicitly denied, any character with interest in a woman is 'nominally straight', but given the context, it has unfortunate implications.
Still, I think people need to put more thought into their writing when covering transgender topics. Its a topic that many aren't used to covering and so making offensive mistakes is all too easy, even for people who mean well.
You could argue that, technically, unless any interest in men is explicitly denied, any character with interest in a woman is 'nominally straight', but given the context, it has unfortunate implications.
3
I had the opportunity of seeing this film in Hollywood a few weeks back. The piece is a moving, and comedic look at the friendship between two women, and explores part of Los Angeles rarely seen onscreen. The cast is superb. Sean Baker and his colleagues' ability to capture this wonderful story using iPhones should serve as inspiration to filmmakers everywhere.
20
They are not women. The movie reviewer contradicts herself, like the above commenter she calls them women. Then says femininity is a mask that can be stripped off. No it cannot.
I want to see this movie---it looks like fun---but women rarely enjoy the sexual freedom and masculine power (exceptions like Amy Schumer [sp?] are few) that these two TGs have.
I want to see this movie---it looks like fun---but women rarely enjoy the sexual freedom and masculine power (exceptions like Amy Schumer [sp?] are few) that these two TGs have.
4
They are women because they have chosen to be women. Period. End of discussion. You don't get to decide who or what they are. They do. Just like you do.
14
Unfortunately, the language has been deliberately undermined for political purposes, so that there is no longer a general consensus on what simple words mean any more. I agree with you that so-called "trans women" are not women; if they were, there would be no need or desire to add the modifier "trans" and announce it to the world.
However, it is true that femininity and masculinity are learned behaviors. That does not necessarily make them masks meant to hide something, although, as in the case of "trans women," that is certainly a possibility.
However, it is true that femininity and masculinity are learned behaviors. That does not necessarily make them masks meant to hide something, although, as in the case of "trans women," that is certainly a possibility.
1
Cannot wait to see this!
7
I can't wait to see this! NPR also gave a rave review. I hope it makes it to a theater in St. Louis.
7
If they started life with an XY chromosome set, don't they still have an XY chromosome set? And doesn't that mean they are still essentially male? Or have we found a way to alter the genes in this context as well?
10
Your question belies your screen name. Thinking man? I think not.
9
They might have lost one in the dryer. That's always happening to me. I have about 6 singles waiting for their pairs to show up.
But seriously, you're right. They didn't just start life with XY chromosome sets (I assume they each had them, and they didn't have to share to get a set). The still have XY chromosome sets.
Does have an XY chromosome set make one essentially male, though? It certainly makes one genetically male. But I have no idea what makes one essentially male. What is the essence of maleness? Is it a love of NASCAR and Old Spice, and an extreme dislike of ballet? Is it just a feeling? Is it too personal a question to have a broad answer that applies to everyone?
But seriously, you're right. They didn't just start life with XY chromosome sets (I assume they each had them, and they didn't have to share to get a set). The still have XY chromosome sets.
Does have an XY chromosome set make one essentially male, though? It certainly makes one genetically male. But I have no idea what makes one essentially male. What is the essence of maleness? Is it a love of NASCAR and Old Spice, and an extreme dislike of ballet? Is it just a feeling? Is it too personal a question to have a broad answer that applies to everyone?
8
Perhaps that point isn't completely germane to a discussion about the film.
8
A lot of things might change, but the one thing that can't change (yet), is the "XY chromosome set they were born with."
12
If you're implying that makes them any less female, look up Swyer syndrome. It doesn't.
2
What is the point of this comment?
5
To try to make a point?