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Transamerica Transamerica is a film about a pre-op male-to-female transsexual. Not just your normal run-of-the-mill tranny, but one that has fathered a child. And not just your normal run-of-the-mill child either, but a drug-addicted gay hooker. Had the child been raised by a transsexual pre-op, the religious zealot in us all would not have been surprised, but this is not the case.
The story starts us off with the main character of Bree (Felicity Huffman) trying to pick the right tone of voice - a constant reminder throughout the film that this is a lifestyle not an act. Her long desired sex change is ransomed by a short term relationship she had as a younger man when she finds out she is in fact a father. The child is Toby (Kevin Zegers) a teenage misfit who—despite Bree's alternative choices—is living a lifestyle totally abhorrent to what she considers acceptable.
In a desperate attempt to complete the equation Bree tries to offload Toby on his step-father and gain the required paperwork for her final completing operation. However things don't go so smoothly and both characters are flung into a situation that from the outset is full of difficulty and deception.
Throughout the movie we're treated to a set of challenging and educating ideas. Only someone with a very open mind could have written a script like this (someone in fact like writer/director Duncan Tucker who was inspired to write the film after sharing an apartment with intersexed writer Katherine Connella). The US is a highly polarised society and when the two sides clash we have a meeting of absolute opposites. On the one hand we have liberal, open minded attitudes towards sexuality and freedom of gender, and on the other we have the prudish conservatism of middle America.
As a result we're shown not just both sides of the coin, but exactly what each is made of. For some characters, crossing the boundaries of drug use, violence, sexuality or general disregard for the law is an acceptable step. But crossing the boundaries of gender seems to be a step way too far even to the most outrageously behaved. What is immediately apparent is that, at heart, Bree is prudish and shy in much the same way you would expect from someone's mother.
For the duration of the movie the jokes are very subtle and at times rather weak. However the plot is refreshing and never resorts to stereotypes or cheap shots. As a result you find yourself watching a rather normal movie that doesn't go to the extremes of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) or even Tootsie (1982). It's more like the kind of adventure you would expect from an episode of Six feet Under or Desperate Housewives, and often feels more like a sitcom rather than a movie.
The reason why the movie shines is entirely down to the understated performance of Felicity Huffman. Unlike Dustin Hoffman's performance in Tootsie, Huffman manages to go that step further by actually making you question the gender of Bree. Only by knowing Huffman is a woman can you confirm her true gender - but as a result we're treated to a first class performance worthy of the highest praise.
Even the most open minded Rocky Horror fan will be educated by the normality of Bree's life. As everyday situations occur, the façade that Bree needs to maintain is chipped away only to reveal another stubborn layer of her inner desire to be a true female.
The ugly side of it all is always bubbling near the surface. What we see is actually quite a normal, but rather sad, struggle. There is nothing sordid or bad—all morality is in place—there's just the simple fact that Bree's gender has been misplaced. By challenging your preconceptions you will find yourself asking a few important questions and even realising a few home truths.
Great acting deserves praise and in Transamerica you have a performance that is incredible on many levels. Had Transamerica utilised better comedy moments and a more emotive plot you'd have a first class movie. As it is, largely thanks to its subject matter, Transamerica is destined to be a cult movie when it could have been a mainstream hit.
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