Becoming Chaz is a perfect example of how a film festival's high reputation can over-hype rather mediocre filmmaking and even less impressive story telling. The premise of the film is quite obvious to whomever knows anything about Cher and her daughter Chastity who few months ago began her testosterone therapy in order to change sex. The film was very warmly welcomed at Sundance; the LGBT issues are always given a special spot in the festival line up and attract hordes of people who see these films as the main pillar of independent filmmaking. Oprah Winfrey helped to produce the film and Rosie O'Donnell came down to Sundance to make a brief introduction. But it was the one person that was absent at the premiere who was the real talk of the after movie discussions - Cher. The directors try to present a reliable and heart warming image of Chaz Bono, but very soon after the movie starts we realise that it is Chaz who really conducts the story development and the way his persona is portrayed on the screen. He selects the aspects of his life to which he allows the audience to enter. It seems that the directors who don't want to appear ungrateful to Chaz for letting them to be involved in the documentary don't exhibit any desire to seek the truth beyond the surface of Chaz's life. Chaz's relationship with his mother is the most interesting part of the film and unfortunately the most unsatisfactory. Cher's resentment to her daughter changing sex is unresolved and the only hint of what is going on between her and Chaz is presented after the credits end. Cher briefly meets Chaz after the premiere of her latest film Burlesque and tries to avoid the uncomfortable confrontation. But then, the film is not supposed to be about Chaz and Cher, it is meant to tell the story of Chastity becoming Chaz. However, as Chaz is left in charge of his own portrait he is unable to assess his doings in an investigatory fashion and so the final product ends up being superficial and disappointing.
Review of Becoming Chaz
