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Top 10 transgender movies
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Filmmakers seem to be drawn to transgender movies. They've certainly done more
of them than say bisexual movies. And it certainly offers some of the campiest
movies made. But, the movies at the top of this list are also great dramas and can
compete with any genre. Here are my top 10 picks for best transgender films: |
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10. Rocky Horror Picture Show
The first time I saw this movie (VIRGIN!) was as a high school student in the late 1970s. It was already a weekend midnight movie classic then and the hottest thing to do for the misfits in my high school. I was blown away. But, do yourself a favor and watch this film in a theater with plenty of other people. The joy of this film is audience participation. While it has a lot to offer in performances and music, it's just not the same movie if you're watching it at home alone on your DVD or VHS player. The one time I watched it at home was a very disappointing experience.
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9. Breakfast on Pluto
This delightful Irish/UK film follows the journey of one girl's lifelong search for her place in the universe and the mother who gave her up. Cillian Murphy is more than credible as a man (Patrick) who believes he should have been a woman (Kitten). Kitten's journey from Ireland to London is filled with different lovers and adventures, and through it all Kitten remains true to herself and proves to be one very tough broad. It can get a bit overdramatic, but it's hard not to fall in love with Kitten and this wonderful film.
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8. Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
You want camp, check out the queen of campy movies. It's hard to beat a pink bus with a huge silver shoe and some of the most fabulous women's clothes you're ever likely to see. This musical comedy has reached classic status and shows a good movie can be made with a group of drag queens. Three drag performers (one is a transgender woman) need to get away from Sydney and travel to the middle of Australia to perform at a resort. Each is running away from something and the joy of this film is how they bring the three main characters to life as real men behind those fabulous clothes.
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7. Beautiful Boxer
I had seen one of the bad Iron Ladies movies before I watched this film, so I was a little worried I'd get more of the same. Would it be another Thai sports movie with drag queens, like both Iron Ladies? Or would this one be a hit? Like Iron Ladies, this tale is based on a true story. A Thai kick boxer on the verge of success realizes that he is a she. She being wearing makeup in the ring and slowly makes the transition into a woman. But, when your career is kick boxing, that will get noticed. Asanee Suwan, who was a professional kick boxer, plays the lead and earned the Thai equivalent of a Best Actor nod. It's no Iron Ladies and worth checking out.
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6. Farewell My Concubine
As with most Chinese films, this movie is beautifully shot. The epic tale is years ahead of its time in how it deals with two Opera singers, one who dresses as a woman. I was surprised at how honest this Chinese film dealt with this kind of love story in 1993, but that may be my own misperceptions of China. Still, it does not end well because only one of the leads is gay and the heterosexual singer can never fully give his friend the love that he wants. The story covers 52 years from childhood to old age and may be a bit longer (nearly three hours) than most movies. But, it has plenty of rewards for viewers.
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5. Transamerica
The genre of the buddy road movies takes a major detour in this delightful film that showcases the talents of 'Desperate Housewife' Felicity Huffman. She stars as Bree, a transgender woman who is days away from having the final surgery to make her outside appearance agree with the inner woman she always knew she was. That's when she gets a call saying the son she fathered is in trouble and needs her help. Oh, and he doesn't know about his father or the fact that his father is now a woman. The plot devices include many stolen straight out of other road movies, but the twist makes them all fresh in this case. It's a nice way to update a worn out genre.
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4. Bad Education
Many critics thought this Pedro Almodovar film would be a contender for a Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, but it got snubbed. I haven't seen the movies nominated, but it's hard to imagine this wasn't one of the top five in 2004. An up-and-coming director is looking for his next project when a childhood friend shows up unexpectedly with a screenplay. It details their past lives together at a Catholic school and what happened after they were split apart. Sounds simple, but the twists just keep coming and you are never certain what is going to happen next. That's what helps this film rise above the rest.
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3. My Life In Pink
I had seen this film sitting on the shelf of my local video rental store for years, and in the back of my mind I thought it was gay, but still I resisted watching it. When I started this site I finally took it home and watched it. I'm glad I did. This tale of a young boy who is convinced he's meant to be a girl may come off as a child's story, but don't let that stop you from seeing it. It's more about the adults and how they adjust to the young transgender girl, who is quite happy living as a girl and can't understand why the adults are having so much trouble with it. It's a great film and I'm sorry I waited so long to see it.
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2. The Crying Game
The twist. It's all everyone could talk about when this movie first was released in theaters. By now most people know what the twist is (and by its placement on this list you can probably guess if you don't). But the movie deserves to be here for more than the shock value. It mixes politics and love as its two themes and shows better than any movie that love is a many complicated thing. The performances are outstanding by the entire cast, but Jaye Davidson steals the show. This unknown earned a Best Supporting nomination for the portrayal of the exotic hairdresser that Stephen Rea falls for. Every gay film fan should see this movie.
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1. Boys Don't Cry
Based on the true life story of a transgender boy named Brandon Teena and his struggle to find love in the small towns of Nebraska. Hilary Swank earned her for first Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Teena. It's a powerful movie with images of rape and murder. But it shows the plight of transgender people well and with sympathy. This movie stands apart in a category that Hollywood usually only represents with drag queens and loads of camp. Here's a true-life story that shows transgender people are more than men who dress in women's clothes and mouth the words to songs. And that's why it's near the top of this list.
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Drama : Comedy : Romance : Suspense : Musical : Erotic
Gay Men's Films : Lesbian Films : Bisexual Films : Transgender Films
Overall GLBT Films Top 10 : Gay Men Films Top 10 : Lesbian Films Top 10
Bisexual Films Top 10 : Transgender Films Top 10 : HIV/AIDS Films Top 10
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