41/29
An Iranian-American trans man travels back in time to an LGBTQ+ archive to understand his sexuality. He encounters his past and present during an erotic journey of self-discovery. This is a documentary about gay female-to-male and female-to-male transgender people. It deals primarily with life after transition, with little emphasis on the transition process itself. It also deals with those whose physical orientation leans toward male. There are two main categories of subjects. One is Lou Sullivan, an F-to-M trans activist who was also a pioneer in identifying as gay. He is represented by several excerpts from his TV interviews, as well as the writings of a correspondent of his. The other is a series of interviews with various trans people of different presentations and anatomies—one male-identified subject insisted on keeping his vagina. They often have difficulty finding intimate partners, though Trans Night in gay bathhouses is a great help, as they don’t have to explain themselves. This is wrapped up in a narrative drama. An Iranian-American trans male (who left Iran shortly after the revolution) goes to a queer archive in Chicago to do research and befriends a younger, male trans staffer. The Iranian angle is reinforced by discussions about an Iranian “omelette” dish. This hybrid approach added interest and made it feel like more than just a dry documentary. I saw it as part of a film festival, with the cast and director present. The director mentioned that the Iranian actor helped make a short “proof of concept” to apply for funding and it was kept, with Iranian touches added to the script. The other actor was an activist in his own right, and his role was written with him in mind.
