The independent film Transamerica, which did well at film festivals across the country and honored with an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, is more than just a film focusing on hyped up subject matter and dealing with gender, but is also a journey film of self discovery while trying to fit in with society. After all, its tagline reads, "life is more than the sum of its parts," and this film is more than just a film discussing "parts."
The Story
Felicity Huffman plays Bree Osbourne--formerly Stanley Osbourne— who’s almost completed a series of sex-change operations and just when his therapist is about to give a recommendation for the final surgery, Bree gets the shock of his life when the teenage son he never knew existed calls and needs to be bailed out of jail. (Note: from here on out I’m going to call Bree a she, since that’s her appearance and what she wants to be). The therapist however refuses to sign the needed papers unless Bree goes and faces her past. Bree does not want to find her son and fears that she will lose her chance at getting the surgery, since it might be another year until she is able to get the coveted appointment at the hospital. Seeing no other choice she flies from California to New York City to bail the son she never knew she had out of prison. However, instead of letting the boy, Toby (Kevin Zegers) know that she is his long lost father, she pretends to be a born again Christian helping him to straighten out. Toby, who has his own troubles, reluctantly agrees to travel across the country with his new savior so that he can get over to Hollywood. Bree meanwhile plans on re-uniting Toby with his step-dad now that his mother is dead and he is all alone. The two of course reluctantly become friends during their cross-country journey riddled with road bumps and discovery. The biggest discovery being when Toby will find out that the woman he is riding with his not a woman and more importantly his father.
Although, Bree wanting to be a man, is an important element of the film it’s not the only one and despite the subject matter and unhappy moment’s the film is far from being a downer or depressing. It is in fact funny at times, especially seeing Bree struggle to control a teenage boy and “rough it” while going road tripping with her rebellious son. Most of all,
Transamerica does not force viewers to approve of the idea of transgender or push for any great resolution, but instead slowly peels away the layers of Bree's character, showing her basic struggle for respect and a chance at happiness. Whatever your standpoint it is hard not to sympathize with Bree and his/her plight and effort to maintain harmony in a non-traditional family.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
Interesting - we also reviewed Transamerica today at Desicritics - check it out