Becoming Chaz (2011)

Documentary following Chaz (formerly Chastity) Bono's gender transition. Includes interviews with family members and friends as the transition is followed.

Directors:

Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato

Stars:

Cher, Chaz Bono, Jennifer Elia

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Cher	...	Herself
Chaz Bono	...	Himself
Jennifer Elia	...	Herself
Jimm Giannini

Storyline

Documentary following Chaz (formerly Chastity) Bono's gender transition. Includes interviews with family members and friends as the transition is followed.

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Plot Keywords:

gender transition | interview | gender | family relationships | surgery | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 2011 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

World of Wonder

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in The Oprah Winfrey Show: Living Legend Debbie Reynolds and Her Daughter Icon Carrie Fisher (2011)

User Reviews

Touching, heart opening and honest

Interesting documentary about Chastity Bono's sex change to become Chaz Bono. It deals well with the complexities of life for both the trans-gendered, and for the children of very famous people.

Quite touching and informative, it makes the still uneasy and confusing (for many) subject of sex re-assignment far more human, and understandable on both a technical (how does it work?) and - more important – emotional level.

It also doesn't shy away from the hard parts (e.g. the difficult personality changes brought on in Chaz by his intense hormone therapy). Chaz is allowed to look self-centered, and even like a jerk at times, without it impeding on our sympathy or identification. He's just a person, like all of us, which is the whole point.

While the film-making itself can be uneven, this is the kind of film that helps people open their hearts and minds to those who seem 'different'. And that is always a worthwhile thing.