Man For a Day 2012
Distributed by Icarus Films, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by Katarina Peters
Directed by Katarina Peters
DVD, color, 51 min.
College - General Adult
Gender Identity, Transvestism, Sociology
Date Entered: 06/30/2014
Reviewed by Justin Cronise, D'Youville College, Buffalo, NY and Genesee Community College, Batavia, NYMan For a Day documents a workshop in which a group of women explore what it is like to be a man and to transform themselves to take on a male identity. Diane Torr, the inspiring performance artist, gender activist, and drag king who leads the workshop, says that the purpose is to empower women, not to become men but to “become more,” yet this film offers valuable insights for both men and women.
Viewers will enjoy the characters and the makeovers, but what makes this film so fascinating is the exploration of how gender and appearance have such a profound effect on an individual’s experience in society. It is both illuminating and unsettling to observe the power of visual stereotypes and to sum up the differences between men and women as “a repeated series of gestures.”
The workshop takes place in Berlin and all of the women participants are German. Although Torr and several of the women speak English, much of the dialogue is in German so there are English subtitles. The film is well-done and displays a lightheartedness and openness that is distinctly European. Although there are several scenes of female nudity, which might be a consideration for some, this film will make an excellent discussion-starter for adults and mature students exploring a broad range of topics beyond gender identity and gender differences, to discrimination, feminism, and social psychology. Man For a Day is recommended for college and public libraries, especially collections supporting gender studies and LGBT-related studies.