Transformer (2017)

In the summer of 2015, former US Marine and world record weightlifter Matt "Kroc" Kroczaleski was publicly outed as being transgender.

Director:

Michael Del Monte

Writers:

Michael Del Monte, Samuel Fussell (consulting writer)

Star:

Janae Marie Kroczaleski

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Janae Marie Kroczaleski	...	Self

Storyline

In the summer of 2015, former US Marine and world record weightlifter Matt "Kroc" Kroczaleski was publicly outed as being transgender. The reaction was universal: her sponsors abandoned her, she was disowned by her parents, banned from competing, and she changed her name to "Janae". This film follows Janae as she attempts to find her place in society. Initially wanting to strip off the muscle and become a much smaller looking woman, she found herself unable to lose the muscle she so desperately gained. She now finds herself living one day as an alpha male and the next day as a delicate girl. Will Janae be able to handle her muscle relapses? Will her passage from being a male bring her the peace she's looking for? Will society accept a 250lbs muscular woman? Is her path personal redemption or physical and psychological disaster?

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Plot Keywords:

transgender | sportsman | weightlifting | power lifting | ex marine | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Janae Marie Kroczaleski is an American athlete who previously competed as ( Matthew kroczaleski) professional powerlifter and competitive bodybuilder.

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Connections

References Pokémon Red Version (1996)

User Reviews

Documentary of the Year

Folks go on and on about how 'fearless' a given film is in its unflinching approach to some subject or another. Sure, there are a lot of brave films making the rounds, but to me Transformer sets a new standard. This film is far from a superficial topic treatment of gender identity crisis and transformation. It is in fact a deeply personal story of the struggle to reconcile one's own identity amid manifold, countervailing forces.

How does a person who has lived their life building and supporting a false identity to protect their psyche from the hatred they feel toward their own body set about building a life around who they've always yearned to be? The answer, it seems, is that nobody knows. Transformer manages to simultaneously challenge what it takes to be a man, what it means to be a woman, and what is required to be truly human.

Astonishingly honest, deeply emotional, peppered with intimate takes and salted with a sawtooth wave of tiny triumphs and existential setbacks, Transformer is a documentary masterpiece for the modern age. Janae Marie Kroc is ultimately more heroine than we likely deserve, but perhaps precisely the one we need.

Details

Official Sites:

official site

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 September 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Transformer

Company Credits

Production Co:

Storystream Creative

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Color:

Color