This is one of those typical low-budget indie gay holiday movies that probably didn't get much attention when it first dropped. It used to be called 'Red Lodge' before they changed the name. While there are a few moments of actual comedy and sweet romance tucked away in here, they’re mostly hidden under a pile of mediocre acting, weird camera angles, and some really annoying choices by the characters. On the bright side, the whole thing only lasts about an hour, so it’s a quick watch if nothing else. The plot follows Jordan and Dave, a couple who have been together for a few years. Right before Christmas, Jordan pops the question, expecting a big "Yes!" but instead, Dave basically says, "Can't we just stay the way we are?" They head off on a train to spend the holidays with Jordan's aunt, bringing along Jordan’s "sister" Lisa—who was raised by the aunt—and her boyfriend. Most of the movie is just them bickering and talking through Jorda...
This documentary was filmed after an elaborate almost 1 year following after its 4 main protagonists, four artists and transgender activists from the city’s underground scene. Their words, fears and hopes take the audience from an outsider’s point of view to being emotionally invested in their destiny.
Four transgender artists from the city’s underground scene –Amanda Lepore, Chloe Dzubilo, Sophia Lamar and T De Long– go beyond honesty, passion and tears, to reveal how their fight for freedom built a bridge between transgender activism and Manhattan’s alternative nightlife scene. Through intertwined narratives, fragments of their past are gradually unveiled, inviting audiences to reflect on the complexity of fate, hope and survival, and their unique struggle against adversity. In the process, we become not only passive spectators of their fight, but also confidantes of their extraordinary stories and lives.
I am sorry to say but this documentary failed to connect with me at any level. I felt it was missing a coherent narrative. It was pieces of stories randomly put together about each of these 4 artists. It seems like the filmmaker trusted that the subjects were interesting enough to speak for themselves without having to develop a documentary with its own voice. I guess that just like any story can be interesting if told in the right way, any story can be boring if told in the wrong way. (2/10)

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