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Paternal Instinct (Documentary)

By Golu
This documentary is nearly twenty years old now, and it follows a gay couple as they navigate the stressful and exciting journey of their first pregnancy through surrogacy. You get to see it all— the hope, the nerves, and the dramatic hurdles they have to clear along the way. Back in the day, this was probably a massive deal, but since I’ve known a few gay couples who’ve gone through this exact process, some parts felt a bit dated to me. I liked bits and pieces of it, but I also felt like the film stays pretty surface-level. It doesn't really dive into the deep, complicated reality of life after the baby actually arrives. If only raising a kid were actually as simple as this movie makes it look! Erik and Mark have been together in New York for ten years, and since they feel solid in their relationship, they decide they’re ready to raise a child. They start the hunt for a surrogate and eventually connect with Wen, a wife and mom from Maine who agrees to carry the baby for a standard...
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Miss Andy (Mandarin)

By Golu
Although this film is from Taiwan, the setting of this place is in Malaysia and highlights the challenges transgender people face. It snot like Taiwan doesn't have their share of issues, but I am sure there was a reason this film was set in Malaysia. This film tells us the story of Andy (who now calls herself Yvonne) and tells the story of the sympathetic titular character and her struggle to be accepted by her makeshift new family.

We are introduced to Yvonne's life which is full of struggles and troubles. Her clumsy attempt for sexual services to a violent man doesn't go well and soon her best friend Lucy is also killed. Yvonne (earlier Andy) has been completely shunned by her family. Her three grown up kids want to have nothing to do with their transgender father. SO you an imagine the life of dejection Andy/Yvonne is facing, but nothing deters her from being true to herself. She occasionally works as a van driver for a friend Teck, a young handsome guy but who is half deaf and shares with Evon the feeling of being a “lesser” human. One day a chance encounter with Sophia and her 7 year old son changes life for Yvonne. She has been running from her abusive husband. Yvonne offers them shelter and food and before you know the trip sort of become a family with Teck being an occasional guest. But will the tender close knit family stay intact or trouble is brewing just around the corner. In a very shocking climax (I wasn't expecting that at all), Yvonne is cheated on by the very same people she loved and supported and was there for. But this has been the life she has been used to.

The ending of the film was completely surprising for me. I was not expecting that. Because of this, now I am not very sure what was the message the film was trying to say? Do trans people no have a right to happiness? Will they always be cheated on by their loved one? Will they ever find love? Is it wrong to trust people and care for them only to be heartbroken? These and many other questions are going through my head now. The film starts off well and we slowly get into Yvonne's life: present and past. We understand the pains she must have gone through but sh his determined. Slowly but surely a few gentle souls come together and create a family. They maybe "lesser" humans or misfits in their own way, but together, they do enjoy moments of tenderness, happiness forgetting their problems for sometime. We genuinely hope Yvonne gets happiness in life because you see she is so selfless. But I was shocked to the core when these same people who she was there for, end up ruining her life and leaving her all alone. She clearly did not deserve that. Acting my the lead playing Andy/Yvonne is impressive to say the least. He does an incredible job. The character of Teck is very interesting. He is cheerful but desperate, magnetic but hiding something; his chemistry with Yvonne impalpable and tender. One of my favorite scene is when Yvonne sexually tries to kiss Teck but he has no sexual inclinations for her, first pushes Yvonne away but then puts her and just kisses on her forehead. A very touching yet tender moment. The mother playing Sophia was just ok, in my opinion, but the kid brings in charm and innocence. 

Despite a bit of shaky script, especially the end, this film is an honest attempt to bring to forefront the ongoing discourse about freedom from stigma and discrimination. A believable story that sucks you inside their world and you wanna know the journey of these individual characters. (7/10)
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