Many reviews paint this film as a glowing example of love and family conquering all, even the, as it is repeatedly explained, inconvenience, embarrassment, and awkwardness of a transgender parent. While Trisha is clearly very loved by her family, I was left with more sadness than celebration. It is a story of everyone loosing something to maintain the family they want, which for Trisha means staying partially in the closet. Happiness denied in some parts of her life allows happiness in others, and it leaves you questioning whether you would accept the denial of an integral part of yourself to keep the people you love.
As one review from the Village Voice (that should be longer) observes, "the film is ostensibly about how the Shattucks have stayed together, but what's most interesting and moving is how Trisha manages to accept the casual bigotry of her family and to love them anyway."
As one review from the Village Voice (that should be longer) observes, "the film is ostensibly about how the Shattucks have stayed together, but what's most interesting and moving is how Trisha manages to accept the casual bigotry of her family and to love them anyway."