Educational Media Reviews Online

Equipped with a digital camera, Johnny Bergmann’s feature-length documentary tells the story of fAe Gibson who voluntarily undergoes a double mastectomy to fulfill her desire to live as a man. The film explores the physical and psychological effects of gender redesign not typically shown in most films. Part road trip, and part video diary, Gibson provides an unscripted account of his thoughts and actions prior to, during, and following his decision to undergo breast removal.

Born to a feminist mother who highly values the concept of womanhood, Gibson is an anomaly to his parents. His family accepts his sexual orientation, but cannot understand his decision to remove his breasts. Gibson reveals a childhood of wanting to be a boy, and having no desire to dress-up, or play with dolls. However, with the onset of puberty, Gibson cannot wish away his physical transformation. To placate his rather conservative community, he embraces an idyll standard of femininity, but soon realizes that he cannot live the façade of being a straight woman. Therefore, he makes a decision to leave behind his rural farming community in Pennsylvania to travel to New York City and live life openly as a butch lesbian.

In New York, Gibson attends classes and performs in nightclubs as Sir Lix-A-Lot. He also befriends Bergmann who is an up and coming student filmmaker. Together, they travel the country to document stories of gay youth for a pilot television show. However, it is not clear if the pilot is picked up, or becomes part of a larger project. After two years, Bergmann receives a call from Gibson to inform him that he will undergo surgery to remove his breasts, and that he will do so in his conservative community in Pennsylvania. Thus the heart of the transformative journey begins.

Several months prior to surgery, Gibson takes medication to develop a deeper voice and to grow facial hair. But, it is his breasts which are constant reminders of his true gender. This film does a good job highlighting Gibson’s open and frank explanation about the surgical procedure. Gibson explains the cost of the procedure, graphically shows how his chest will be restructured, and enlists the surgeon to visually detail the expected outcome. Gibson’s willingness to share post-op care is refreshing as well. This means having to watch Gibson empty tubes which are inserted into his chest to drain fluid away from the breast tissue. He must then measure the amount of blood from the tubes to document any post surgery abnormalities.

During the recuperation process, Gibson legally changes his name from fAe Elizabeth to fAe Eli. He is also asked by a local friend to relocate from Pennsylvania to San Francisco. It is during this road trip that Gibson is reluctant to discuss whether he will undergo additional surgery to transform his womanhood into a male penis. For now, he is content with his gender redesign, and looks forward to meeting and dating persons with similar body transformations. This reviewer feels it is refreshing to see a story about a transgender, who for lack of a better word, lives happily ever after. This is due largely in part to Gibson’s uplifting and positive attitude throughout the entire film. This is one of those rare films where the viewer is given a positive and self-assured first-hand account, and in-depth look into the transgender process.

The filmmaker and cinematographer also are to be commended for highlighting the societal attitudes of big cities (New York and San Francisco) versus small and serene rural farming communities (western Pennsylvania). This film is sure to supplement courses in gender studies, psychology, and women’s studies.

I highly recommend this title for high school, public, and academic media collections.