25/24

An Iranian-American trans man travels back in time to an LGBTQ+ archive to understand his sexuality. He encounters his past and present self 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 towards masculine. 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 multiple excerpts from interviews he gave on television, plus 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 her vagina. They often have trouble finding intimate partners, although Trans Night at gay public baths is a great help as they do not have to explain themselves. This is wrapped in narrative drama. An Iranian-American trans masculine (who left Iran shortly after the revolution) goes to a queer archive in Chicago to do research and befriends a younger, boyish trans staff member. The Iranian angle is heightened by discussions over a plate of Iranian “omelette.” This hybrid approach added interest and made it feel more than the dryness of a straight documentary. I watched this 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 they stuck with it, 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.

Bambi Jugement 2025