Transamerica
The main reason Transamerica succeeds as a motion picture is that it never tries to be an issue movie. While Duncan Tucker’s 2005 film does deal with a transsexual lead character and a whole whack of sexual issues, it isn’t a movie about those issues and that helps keep it strong. Other films would have been about the components, of course, but Tucker allows his characters to exist as human beings and not placards for social issues.
The theme of self-discovery is present for all characters in the picture, which makes Transamerica a surprisingly universal experience. It is a movie about finding true purpose and about changing expectations in light of, shall we say, new evidence. The characters adapt and alter their perceptions throughout the movie’s 103 minutes, but things never feel unnatural or forced. Tucker’s Transamerica is a completely organic experience.
Felicity Huffman stars as Bree Osborne, a transsexual who is one week away from sex reassignment surgery. Bree has a job at a Mexican restaurant and leads a normal life while approaching the surgery with anticipation and excitement. Anxious to start her new life as a woman, Bree sees a therapist to aid with her adjustment period.
One day Bree receives a phone call from Toby Wilkins (Kevin Zegers), a 17-year-old delinquent who turns out to be her son. Of course, Toby is seeking his father Stanley, but Stanley is now Bree. This presents a number of complications and Bree heads to NYC to face up to her past on the “advice” of her therapist. This begins a complicated journey to help Toby and Bree both find their sense of purpose and belonging in life. Along the way, Bree faces her parents and Toby learns more about his father.
Huffman is simply astounding in this role. It isn’t an easy one, that’s for sure, and she handles the part with poise. Huffman never comes across as though she’s putting on an act and the piece never feels gimmicky. This is due to some strong writing by Tucker and William H. Macy, but her performance is what really elevates this material and makes things pop.
The character she weaves is truly amazing. Bree is an uncomplicated person, but she has an interesting way about her that proves captivating. She is an endless fount of knowledge, constantly bringing up seemingly trivial facts about the world and dotting her language with little French phrases. Despite working in a rather dead-end job, Bree is happy and seems rather impressed with her place in life. There is no shame. She even spends a lot of time correcting poor Toby’s grammar.
Toby presents a series of complications beyond what Bree is used to, of course. At first he is simply annoying her by putting his feet up on the dash of the car, but then he proceeds to take drugs and engage in prostitution and things become more complex. It falls on Bree to raise her son, certainly, but she soon becomes aware of just how intricate a job it is.
The beauty in Transamerica is that it is a movie about relationships and discovery. It is also a movie about a father and son and about how change, even the most seemingly drastic change, can lead to new understandings and new roles. Backed by powerful performances and a brilliant script that never allows this film to roll off the hill into Lifetime territory, Transamerica is a wonderful movie.
Trailer:
