Transamerica (2005)

Directed by: Duncan Tucker | 103 minutes | drama, comedy, adventure | Actors: Felicity Huffman, Kevin Zegers, Fionnula Flanagan, Elizabeth Peña, Graham Greene, Burt Young, Carrie Preston, Venida Evans, Jon Budinoff, Raynor Scheine, Grant Monohon, Bianca Leigh, Craig Bockhorn, Cecy, Andrea James, Maurice Orozco, Paul Borghese, Kate Bayley, Stella Maeve, Teala Dunn, Jim Frangione, Kelly O’Connell, Calpernia Addams, Sandi Alexander, Melissa Sklarz, Felicia Kittles, David Harrison, Forrie J. Smith, Elayne Stein, Amy Povich, Burton Ellis, Matt Young Barbara Barron, Wesley Norton, Richard Poe

You don’t expect a high-quality drama in an American film in which a transsexual and a teenage prostitute play the leading roles. A flat teen comedy full of flawed jokes about genitals and effeminate men and macho ladies seems a more logical choice. Still, ‘Transamerica’ has turned out to be a surprisingly tasteful film. Thanks to a phenomenal Felicity Huffman. Huffman plays Bree, a transsexual man who is about to go through life as a full-fledged woman. One more operation and a new life begins. Just before the dreamed sex change, Bree hears that she has a son. This Toby (Zegers) is in a drunken stupor and spends his life as a teenage prostitute. Under pressure from the psychologist, Bree decides to track down the derailed teen and come to terms with herself and her past.

Let’s face it: ‘Transamerica’ is an ordinary road movie with a good dash of coming of age elements. The film does nothing new, but the tight execution and the cast’s strong acting lift the production of director Duncan Tucker far above average. Huffman is perfectly cast as the unstable Bree. The man struggles with an identity crisis and a painful past. The doubt and despair of a person on the edge of the emotional abyss is portrayed in a charming way. Huffman gets good counterplay from Zegers as a derailed teenage son. However difficult it may seem to put yourself in the perspective of a transsexual, Huffman does a great job of presenting the problem to you in an impressive way. You soon become attached to the apparently vulnerable man who has a lot more to offer than he thought. The unhinged Toby is also not your average character as a teenage prostitute. Yet Zegers portrays the character very well.

The clashing opinions and character traits between the duo are both tragic and comical. Emotions such as incomprehension, stubbornness and fear alternate. You hope things will work out between the two, but the outcome remains guesswork. Tucker has put down a jet-black fairy tale. A fable about two damaged people who have more in common than you might think. However strange or outlandish the characters may seem, the feelings of powerlessness and their shortcomings are universal.

‘Transamerica’ deserves respect for the stylish approach and the humane approach. Felicity puts her vanity aside as Bree. Thanks to the good balance, the film never goes off the rails. Just as ‘Transamerica’ threatens to become a top-heavy drama, Tucker throws some light humor into the print. Bree’s accidental reunion with her family is especially witty. The reserved attitude of the hero(ess) versus Toby’s debauchery is also fresh. Except for a few shots of naked man asses and a dildo, there is nothing offensive in ‘Transamerica’. Not bad for a film with a transsexual in it…