I Don’t Want To Be A Man
Comedy legend Ernst Lubitsch made this very early silent short about a rebellious spirit who leaves home in drag to attend a ball. I Don't Want To Be A Man is a peculiar time capsule depicting gender roles in German society in the years Berlin was becoming the global epicenter of sexual and gender exploration.
Sylvia Scarlett
A notorious flop when first released, George Cukor's masterpiece Sylvia Scarlett follows Katharine Hepburn on a zany journey through the criminal underworld and gender nonconformity. Sylvia is a male-presenting tomboy whose romantic entanglements with bisexual Cary Grant make for a uniquely complex romp that has fascinated gender studies majors for years.
Glen Or Glenda
Ed Wood was an eccentric, gender non-conforming filmmaker who made a name for himself in 1950's Hollywood due to his extreme lack of talent. Glen Or Glenda is always listed among the worst movies ever made, but for years, it was the most famous example of trans representation to be seen anywhere. Written long before queer was an academic department, and just after Christine Jorgenson became a household name, Glen Or Glenda must be seen to be believed. No, no, it just must be seen.
The Queen
This landmark documentary is a must-see centerpiece of LGBT cinema. An exuberant, enlightening record of a 1967 pageant organized by legendary trans artist and activist Mother Flawless Sabrina, The Queen is perhaps best remembered for the immaculate screen presence of Crystal LaBeija, mother of New York's House of LaBeija.
Funeral Parade Of Roses
A forgotten classic recently rediscovered and restored, Funeral Parade of Roses is a surrealistic experimental feature about a makeshift family of queer youths, all playing versions of themselves. It makes for an uncomfortable, unforgettable, and deeply empathetic experience.
Trash
Iconic transgender actress Holly Woodlawn gives a fiery performance in the 1970 Andy Warhol production Trash. Holly plays a wholly-realized destitute woman on the Lower East Side who, together with her partner Joe Dallesandro, scrapes by on her wits. Her tough exterior masks a deep vulnerability, and her powerful personality steals the movie. All the more astonishing: This was her screen debut, and was totally improvised. Woodlawn then became the first trans actress to have an organized Oscar campaign.
Desperate Living
Shot with a low budget on outdoor sets, John Waters' midnight movie classic is his tasteless take on The Wizard Of Oz. It has a cast of astonishing kooks, but my favorite is Mole McHenry, a trans man who leads a revolution against the tyrannical fascist Queen Carlotta.
Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil
Trans actress The Lady Chablis made an indelible impression in this unusual Clint Eastwood period film, playing a fictionalized version of herself. An iconic performer and comedienne from Savannah, Georgia, The Lady Chablis was an unconventional community leader, and she had a strong screen presence, holding her own against an ensemble of established stars.
By Hook Or By Crook
POSE and A Kid Like Jake director Silas Howard made his debut with By Hook Or By Crook, an intimate, handmade feature, co-directed with Harry Dodge, details beautifully the complex bond between two trans men who become partners in crime.
A Fantastic Woman
Last year's Oscar winner in the foreign language category, A Fantastic Woman is an devastating but ultimately triumphant character study of a Chilean trans woman dealing with the sudden loss of her boyfriend. Newcomer Daniela Vega is right on the money in the challenging lead role.
