Girl: Cisgender Male wins award for Transgender Role at Cannes

Girl, since acquired by Netflix, has taken home not one but two awards at Cannes.  It’s frustrating to see this film take home any award.  The practice of Transface–casting cisgender people in transgender roles–is a practice that seriously needs to come to an end.  It’s no different than the casting of white people and making them up to appear as people of color.  If you wouldn’t cast someone in Blackface, don’t bother casting in Transface! …

"Girl: Cisgender Male wins award for Transgender Role at Cannes"

CCFF 2018: A Kid Like Jake

A Kid Like Jake is a film that ought to add to the conversation about gender identity among young children. The roots of A Kid Like Jake as a play becomes clear in the final act of the film through the performances of Claire Danes and Jim Parsons in particular.  Through Silas Howard’s direction and the camera framing of cinematographer Steven Capitano Calitri, the performances come off as theatrical rather than cinematic. Danes and Parsons…

"CCFF 2018: A Kid Like Jake"

Ready Player One: Time’s Up Means Recasting!

The major problem with Ready Player One goes down to one thing: neither Steven Spielberg nor Warner Bros. Pictures decided to recast T.J. Miller’s role of I-R0k following allegations of assault and abuse.  Given the news stories that broke in December about allegations of sexual assault at college as well as my own personal experience, why didn’t Spielberg follow Ridley Scott’s lead with recasting the role?!? Miller’s character is nowhere to be seen in the…

"Ready Player One: Time’s Up Means Recasting!"

SXSW 2018: Gabe Silverman, Fiona Dawson talk TransMilitary

Directors Gabe Silverman and Fiona Dawson stopped by Solzy at the Movies to discuss their new documentary, TransMilitary, which premiered at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival. Thanks for joining us today.  How are things treating you? Fiona Dawson:  Thank you so much for all your cheerleading and support of TransMilitary. We’re so pleased that you like it. Congrats on your new film, TransMilitary, premiering at SXSW and taking home an Audience Award for the Documentary…

"SXSW 2018: Gabe Silverman, Fiona Dawson talk TransMilitary"

SXSW 2018: TransMilitary – 2018’s Most Important Documentary

TransMilitary is the most important documentary that anyone will view during the 2018 calendar year. In a perfect world, there would not be any controversy with regards to transgender people serving in the United States Military.  Being transgender isn’t something that should take away from someone having the ability to serve in combat.  The road to lifting the transgender military ban was a long one.  It’s one in which SPARTA, the LGBTQ Military Organization, played…

"SXSW 2018: TransMilitary – 2018’s Most Important Documentary"

Cinequest: Venus

In focusing on a transgender woman coming out, Venus is a film that also speaks to the themes of feeling included and wanting to be loved. When it comes to films with a transgender character in the leading role, it’s very important that their being trans is not the key thing about their character.  Eisha Marjara doesn’t as much focus on Sid Gill (Debargo Sanyal) transitioning in general in as much as the focus is on…

"Cinequest: Venus"

Just Charlie: Transgender Film Hits Close To Home

With the way it approaches the emotional struggle for transgender youth and their families, Just Charlie hits really close to home. Rebekah Began directs the coming-of-age film from a script written by Peter Machen.  The film stars Harry Gilby, Scot Williams, and Patricia Potter. Charlie Lyndsay (Harry Gilby) seems to have it all as the teenage soccer player is destined for a future in professional soccer with clubs at the door for the chance to sign…

"Just Charlie: Transgender Film Hits Close To Home"

Slamdance: Interview with Do I Have Boobs Now? Filmmakers

Ahead of the Slamdance Film Festival, Do I Have Boobs Now? filmmakers Milena Salazar and Joella Cabalu spoke with Solzy at the Movies about the short film. Thank you for joining Solzy at the Movies today.  How are things treating you? Milena Salazar: Hi Danielle, thanks for chatting with us! Things are going well. My co-director Joella Cabalu and I are very excited about our Slamdance screenings, as well as others coming up at Indiana Bloomington Pride and…

"Slamdance: Interview with Do I Have Boobs Now? Filmmakers"

The Switch’s Amy Fox responds to Pose series order on FX

In October, The Switch series creator, Amy Fox, responded to FX’s initial press release of the transgender talent being cast as series regulars on Pose.  It was officially announced today that FX picked up the Ryan Murphy-created Pose to series. “This is great but Trans people already made a TV series with 5 trans *stars*,” Fox tells Solzy at the Movies in a statement. “The sitcom The Switch broadcast in 2016 and is now on iTunes…

"The Switch’s Amy Fox responds to Pose series order on FX"

Oscars: A Fantastic Woman makes Foreign Language shortlist

A Fantastic Woman, starring actress Daniela Vega, was among nine films that advanced to the next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the Oscars.  The nine films were narrowed down from 92 submissions. The films, listed in alphabetical order by country, are: Chile, “A Fantastic Woman,” Sebastián Lelio, director Germany, “In the Fade,” Fatih Akin, director Hungary, “On Body and Soul,” Ildikó Enyedi, director Israel, “Foxtrot,” Samuel Maoz, director Lebanon, “The Insult,”…

"Oscars: A Fantastic Woman makes Foreign Language shortlist"