Transgender identity
As a transgender female living in the 21 century it’s interesting to see that when this film was first shown back in 1972, things haven’t really moved on in terms of how society can still be transphobic, and how this can still have an adverse effect on transgender identity.
The film begins with our protagonist, who is initially named Roy and presenting as a male, watching women on the street outside the estate agent’s office where he works. The main lead character is played by (Anne Heywood) she portrays Roy’s struggles with wanting to become a woman. Roy realizes his gender is different from other males in society and this makes it difficult for him to come out to his family. Roy comes from an upper-middle class background, and although he is an adult, he still lives at home with his father, a stern ex-military disciplinarian. This causes problems for the sensitive Roy and feels unable to express how tormented he feels inside. As the film proceeds, his relationship with his father is intensely awkward but seems to be quite close to his sister, but sadly, she cannot accept her brother’s female identity. Roy secretly engages in cross-dressing later that night, and is accidentally discovered by his father. Roy’s father is furious, striking Roy several times and going on a tirade about how wonderful being a man is, and why would anyone even want to be a woman?
Roy runs away from home the next day, staying at a boarding house and learning to practice feminine comportment, makeup, and dress. Roy then transitions to being Wendy, and after much practice, stands in front of the mirror as a woman for the first time. Wendy then leaves the apartment to go out in public for the first time. As Wendy walks through the crowd, everyone’s eyes are upon her, everyone notices her, and she is clearly terrified. Over several months Wendy adjusts to full-time life as a woman, coming out of her shell and making new friends. Wendy tries to get a job, but discovers her lack of documentation and the fact she’ll have to out herself prevent her from finding work.
Wendy finally goes to a doctor to see about surgery, and the doctor, who is somewhat cold but professional, tries his best to dissuade her, telling her she will never be a woman, she will never be accepted by other women. At the end of the conversation, he does however, refer Wendy to a specialist who can help her transition, warning her that it will take at least a year before she would be eligible for surgery. Wendy decides to move away for a year, and as she is packing to leave she is confronted by Frank, an admirer who takes a fancy to Wendy. Frank attempts a sexual assault on Wendy, and during the assault Frank discovers Wendy still has male genitals. Frank beats her leaving Wendy crying on the floor. Wendy grabs a sharp shard of glass and (non-graphically) mutilates her genitals. We then flash forward to her waking up in a hospital a year later, after a successful SRS, where the doctor properly addresses and genders her. Wendy repeats, in wonder, “Miss Ross…The film closes with Wendy receiving her new passport in the mail, standing in an apartment in the city.
For its time, it shows a touching and accurate fictional portrayal of the coming out of a transgender woman in England in the early 1970’s.