Transamerica (2005)

A preoperative transgender woman takes an unexpected journey when she learns that she fathered a son, now a teenage runaway hustling on the streets of New York.

Director:

Duncan Tucker

Writer:

Duncan Tucker

Stars:

Felicity Huffman, Kevin Zegers, Fionnula Flanagan

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 32 wins & 24 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andrea James	...	Voice Coach
Felicity Huffman	...	Bree
Danny Burstein	...	Dr. Spikowsky
Maurice Orozco	...	Fernando
Elizabeth Peña	...	Margaret
Craig Bockhorn	...	Sergeant
Paul Borghese	...	New York City Cop
Kevin Zegers	...	Toby
Jon Budinoff	...	Alex
Venida Evans	...	Arletty
Raynor Scheine	...	Bobby Jensen
Kate Bayley	...	Tennessee Waitress
Stella Maeve	...	Taylor
Teala Dunn	...	Little Girl
Jim Frangione	...	Taylor's Father

Storyline

Southern Californian Bree Osbourne, formerly Stanley Chupak, has finally received the news for which she has been waiting: she has been approved for male-to-female sexual reassignment surgery. But before Margaret, her therapist, will allow her to go through with the surgery scheduled in a week's time, Bree has to deal with an unresolved problem from her past. Bree gets a telephone call from a seventeen year old man named Toby Wilkins, who is looking for Stanley, his biological father. Toby is in a New York jail, having been supporting himself by petty crime and hustling. Stanley/Bree knew nothing about Toby before the telephone call. Toby apparently is all alone in the world, with his mother having committed suicide and being estranged from his stepfather in Tennessee. Masquerading as a Christian social worker, Bree, not telling him either of her true identity or her transgender status, bails Toby out of jail and tells him she will take him to Los Angeles, where Toby has aspirations ...

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Plot Keywords:

road movie | male full frontal nudity | male objectification | son | parents | 

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Taglines:

Life is more than the sum of its parts.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, nudity, language and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Bac Films [France] Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

3 March 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Transamerika

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$46,908, 4 December 2005

Gross USA:

$9,015,303

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$15,151,744

Company Credits

Production Co:

Belladonna Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the first non-Miramax film to be acquired by Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein.

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Goofs

When Bree is shown coming around after having had her final surgery, her fingernails still have polish on them. Nail polish is always removed prior to surgery, so that any changes in coloring (nails turning blue due to lack of oxygen) are detected by medical personnel.

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Quotes

[from trailer]
Murray: Your mother and I both love you.
Elizabeth Osbourne: But we don't respect you!

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Crazy Credits

For all people of trans experience, For all people of any experience, and For my family.

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Connections

Featured in Empire: The World's Best Movie Quiz (2006)

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Soundtracks

A Bailar
Written by Scott Nickoley, Patricio Castillo, and Jamie Dunlap
Performed by Patricio Castillo
Published by Red Engine Music (ASCAP) / Revision West (BMI)
Courtesy of MasterSource Music Catalog, Inc.

User Reviews

People who might really exist

TRANSAMERICA is a film where you meet people who might really exist. And real people are not only great or terrible, they are mostly both. It is the acting and the dialog which makes all the difference. The film offers a blueprinted storyline of two people who don't know each other traveling together across the US, from NY to LA. Memories of MIDNIGHT RUN and RAIN MAN do come up once in a while. But still this is everything but a Hollywood product. The main character is a Transsexual named Bree, born as a man but living the past few years as a woman, only days before her operation which will definitely make her a woman. That subject and, the fact, that the role is played by an actress signifies a very different approach to the old gender questions. The film offers funny moments too, but never makes fun about a man, wanting to be a woman. The film is very subtle, and it is really a pity when it is finally over. It displays very well that great stories don't require great budgets to make great films! 9 out of 10!