Transamerica…Does Society Really Know What’s Important?

Let me just start by saying that I really enjoyed this movie!! I have to agree with some of the other bloggers that this movie seemed to be more about love and family than the issue of trans-gender. Maybe what that suggests is that no matter what type of personal or social issues we face, nothing can break down the ties that we each have to our family members. Blood is definitely thicker than whatever type of makeup we use to try to mask our identities!

What I really enjoyed about this movie, of course, was its happy ending. Bree was portrayed as any other “normal” person, facing her problems with her parents, her son, finding love in her own life, and her troubles with her own self acceptance and body image. By the end of the movie, however, she had resolved all of her issues and seemed genuinely happy with herself and her life. Isn’t this really what everyone wants? Still, I think the movie sends out the message loud and clear that its ok to be trans-gendered, gay, whatever…because either way, your still human and therefore just as well off as anyone else in this world. Infact, if you can end up living a life of happiness, you may be even better off than some of the rest of us.

I also think that this movie ties into the “Beauty Myth” in that Bree was portrayed as a beautiful person inside, more so than on the outside. Although she put great effort into making herself “perfect,” dressing nicely, doing her nails, constantly checking her hair and makeup, etc., she still fell short of reaching society’s standards of beauty. However, as a person, Bree successfully brought her whole family back together, gave her estranged son a parent and new live, and filled the people close to her with love, all very beautiful acts. Thus, according to Wolf’s comments about the “beauty myth” being about behavior and not appearance, Bree exceeds what society would expect of her and turns out to be a very beautiful person, and even a role model for Toby. Such a touching story!