HuffMAN gives a Stellar performance!

Felicity Huffman certainly did an outstanding job at capturing the character of Bree! I can’t even imagine what a challenge that must have been. A female actress playing a male, who is pretending to be female is a massive undertaking. It must have been an amazing learning experience for Huffman, as an actor and as a heterosexual woman. One thing that I found quite ironic in the film was the wardrobe worn by Bree. Most of the time she was adorned in lots of “girlie” shades. The stereotypical colors of pink and purple seemed to be a favorite for this beloved conservative transsexual. Once again this brings up the idea of what people associate with gender. Bree’s whole mannerism was so pleasant. She was definitely a do-gooder, who had a lot of love in her heart and it was because of these sweet qualities that unsuspecting characters just saw her as a beautiful person. For example, the old Native American gentleman, Calvin, seemed to be completely infatuated with the smart, sophisticated Bree. In the one scene when Bree’s son is chatting with Calvin and tells him that she is a fanatical Christian, Calvin replies, “She can convert me anyday.” These lines present the audience with a doubling of sorts because Calvin isn’t aware of the fact that Bree possesses a penis. “Convert” could be hinting at Calvin entering into a homosexual relationship with Bree.
The title of the film has a doubling as well because “Trans” means to move, cross over. Most of the film takes place in a lime green station wagon, where Bree and her son go across the country and simultaneously grow as human beings. The specific relationship Bree has with her son eventually develops into one where each can gain emotional support from one another. I must admit, the scene in which her 17-year-old son isn’t aware that he is trying to seduce his own biological father is unnerving. This puts a whole new spin on the Oedipus complex. I felt sorry for the son because of the sexual abuse he endured from his mother’s lover.The trmatic experiences he faced twisted his views on love, sexuality, and gender. In was interesting because Bree and her son’s self worth were very low at the start of the film. By the conclusion, both seemed happy and whole. While most parents wouldn’t support their son if he chose to enter into the world of video porn, Bree does. This speaks volumes because it shows that Bree is going to give her son the respect and support that she didn’t receive for so many years. Aww, if that doesn’t make you melt I don’t know what will. I thought it was really funny to watch Bree be bothered by bugs and the outdoors. This perpetuates the idea that women should be frightened by nature and all its slimy creatures. Specifically the fear of snakes was mentioned several times. I believe this reference to snakes is representative of Bree’s extreme hate and anxiety of her penis. Eventually, her own “snake” is successful turned inside out through reassignment surgery. Transamerica prompts viewers to be more accepting of themselves and others around them. This film induces belly laughs and also has the power to make you think about the hardships faced by people who feel uncomfortable in their own skin. While the bond between parent and child is pertinent to the plot, I feel the main focus of the film is about self-discover and ultimately self-acceptance. It also made me want to jump in a car and travel to those little country towns, where lemonade runs through rivers and porch swings sway in the wind!