TRANNY REALNESS

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This morning I attended a screening of “Dressed as a Girl” at Soho Screening Rooms, (which btw have lovely toilets ;P). The film is a documentative work directed by Colin Rothbart and produced by Chris Amos, which follows 6 of East London’s most poignant club characters: Jonny Woo, Scottee, John Sizzle, Julie Holestar, Amber Swallows and Pia, over 6 years in Clubland.

I could talk about the wild scandal and craziness of all their ups and downs which will entice and excite so many, and I will in a minute, but for me this film is so brilliant for other reasons.

First of all, THERE ARE NO FILTERS! Now I don’t mean the Instagram kind, what I’m saying is this film hides nothing. As a person who considers half of the characters as close family and friends, I can vouch for the raw realness of this film. These cultural figures are as truthful on screen as off and this deserves massive congratulations. To be vulnerable enough to provide such honesty from all the characters takes much bravery. The direction cleverly feels almost like non-direction allowing for a much more transparent perspective on the stories; visceral, blunt and real!

Behind the semi-glamorous, ultra nuts parties like “Gay Bingo” and huge events like one particular show at the prestigious “Royal Opera House”, we get a very British and at times bleak insight into how our society reacts to queer life. We witness Dean becoming Amber, the things she has to do to fund this transition and the effects it has on her relationship with her dad. We hear of Scottee’s troubles growing up as a fat gay-teen on a north London estate and being unjustly branded a “rapist” for homosexual acts at the vulnerable age of 13. And we watch as Holestar and Pia struggle to keep afloat with their mental health issues. In short we really do get to see all the ugly behind the sparkly veil of trannydom.

This film has succeeded in capturing a very precious and volatile period of queer history in London. Particularly as the shape of things change and many of the venues that once housed such a scene have closed down. The thought of this film showing in more mainstream cinemas is very exciting. Especially as it shows how real people who are amongst the scene deal with very real issues, such as gender reassignment surgery, mental health struggles, addiction, HIV and the need for love and nurturing. It is incredible to watch how new families form amongst the sadness and madness of our humble scene, and how we survive through it all via parties, political activism and glittery anarchy.

I strongly recommend taking the time to go and see this beautiful, sad and mind-blowingly crazy film.

It is showing in cinemas around the UK from October 2nd and in Vue Cinemas October 4th.

And for extra shenanigans, visit East London and Jonny Woo and John Sizzles new drag pub in Haggerston, The Glory!

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With great love and respect,
Written and Recommended by Ted Rogers “Artpornblog”
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