this weekend i watched a documentary entitled Southern Comfort directed by Kate Davis. This documentary went deep into the lives of a select few transexuals that are looking forward to a yearly transexual convention called Southern Comfort. Two of them are named Robert a Lola. One was born a man and the other was born a woman and they fell in love in the last years of Robert's life. Robert was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and most doctors refuse to treat Robert because he is a transexual. This documentary is a very personal portrait of what Robert is going through in the last days of his life. He is falling more in love with Lola everyday but has to say goodbye to her, his friends, and his family soon.
This film choked me up like nothing else. It is a love story that also teaches audiences what is it to be true to yourself regardless of the gender you were born with. The characters in the film had very strong hearts regardless of how their transgender lifestyle may disappoint their families. Southern Comfort is the convention that brings them all together - it's a way for them to find love, refuge from scrutiny, and comfort.
3 comments:
I agree. This documentary says a lot about the power of love under difficult circumstances. It's interesting to see a group of transsexual friends who live in such a rural area in Georgia where there is still so much prejudice. Robert was denied treatment for his cancer because doctors in his small town denied him treatment because he was a transsexual, many saying that he would be an embarrassment to other patients. One of the most moving moments is when Robert gives his final speech as Southern Comfort, a national convention for transgendered individuals. Even though he was incredibly sick, it was important for him to make the convention one last time because for him it was a place where he could truly be who he was. Robert's words and his love for Lola show what an amazing person that he was. Kate Davis managed to capture such intimate moments and great interviews in this documentary. It deservingly won best documentary at the Sundance film festival.
I haven't seen this yet - but I've been dying to. I think I may check it out this week in class. I've heard a lot of wonderful things about this film, so I'm glad to hear you liked it.
Glad you all appreciated this film by Kate Davis. She has a more recent one called JOCKEY that she made for HBO. There are some excerpts on youtube.
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