Transamerica

Film: Transamerica
Director: Duncan Tucker
Year: 2005
Quick Glance:
Transgender woman finds that she is the father of a 17 year old son
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I was truly surprised when I found out this film was playing in my area. And it was really a fluke that I was able to see it at all. I had imagined this film as being some type of depressing, emotionally trying episode where we follow the main character, Bree, a transgender woman through the difficulties she faces when lo and behold she discovers a son from the one and only tryst years before. I was presently surprised that this film was not dull, not depressing, and not emotionally trying. In fact, the film was a cheery up beat, light hearted almost comedy in which you really felt for the main character not as a transgender person, but as a person.

This story could have been about any person finding out about a child they fathered without realizing it and about building those ties that were missed along the way. The main character is charming and cute. This film is about transformations, but not really about the obvious. Instead, in the film, Bree transforms from an isolated person to a parent and also reconnects with her family.

Over all, this film took common themes and gave them a twist. It ventured to places that Hollywood has in the past, not taken seriously, but rather used as comedy. This film really does deserve to be in the ranks of the Oscar contenders this year. I think it is fresh, fun and delightful to watch.