Normal (2003)

Instant Favorite.

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

I thought the story was unrealistic. After all those years of being married, would a couple have a hard time getting over it? But if it was real, I feel that Roy is a really strong person, trying to become a woman and fight for her own rights in the men's world. It was really striking to see her getting back the earrings that were taken away. But I'm happy to see the family getting well together again, since this may not happen to all. I think the couple will be separated in most cases. Overall, a nice romantic film without making it over romantic. It portrays a strong family bond, and makes me feel that it is important to understand others circumstances more.

Normal is a human drama about a married man who makes a decision to go through a sex- change operation. He confesses to his wife that he has been struggling with a gender disorder since he was a child. The film without a doubt explores the life of Ruth, in the most realistic and non-glamorous way possible without eliminating its emotional connection with the audience. As a truck factory worker in a very masculine working environment, and living in a very small town that is limited in such knowledge on alternative lifestyle, Ruth struggles to be accepted, respected or even looked as a human being. His relationship with his wife is explored in a non glamorous way, and clearly sets the stands for both Ruth's and his wife Irma's character, their view on the situation and their emotional journey through the process of Ruth's sex change. The reaction from their off springs is another subject that the film succeeded in representing. Both children have different reactions to their father's decision, but relate and explain their reactions from their age and characteristics. Both Irma and Ruth have great acting that transcends their emotional journey and hardship through such less explored topics on gender in film. But the film does not take the topic of gender completely foreign and stills keeps the mood of common social issues the same way it does with other human dramas, which succeeds in making it easier for the audience to consumer.

NORMAL was a taboo-shattering TV movie made by HBO that shocked some, offended others, and moved me deeply. This movie, directed and written by Jane Anderson, based on her play, focuses on Irma and Roy Applewood, a small town couple who have been married for over 25 years, have two children and are considered pillars of their community. Roy passes out at a church function one day and Irma thinks there's something physically wrong with him, but it is revealed that Roy has developed a physical illness related to the stress he has put on himself by keeping a secret about himself buried for all these years. Roy finally admits to Irma that he has always felt that he is a woman trapped in a man's body and that he wants to have a sex change operation. Now the twist in this story is that Roy does not want to end his relationship with Irma and even though her entire world has been turned upside down, Irma can't walk away from Roy either and watching these two people deal with this painful revelation is the crux of this story. Roy initially moves out but he realizes he still loves Irma and still wants to be a father to his daughter so he returns home, begins hormone treatments, and starts experimenting with women's clothing in a gradual manner. Of course, this affects all parts of his life drastically...there is a heartbreaking scene where he shows up at his blue collar job wearing earrings and gets beat up because of it. This movie is deeply moving as we watch Roy's inner torment as he tries to be true to himself without destroying his family and watching Irma trying to accept what Roy is going through even though it has completely ripped her world and her whole belief system to shreds. Not to mention Roy and Irma's kids, who have completely different reactions to what is going on. Tom Wilkenson and Jessica Lange deliver two powerhouse performances as Roy and Irma that should have won them both Emmy awards. Hayden Pannetiere lights up the screen as their daughter and Joseph Sikora is solid as their son. Clancy Brown also registers as Roy's boss, who upon learning of Roy's secret, seizes the opportunity to act on some long buried feelings he has always had for Irma. This movie is about tolerance and requires an open mind and patience, as it asks as many questions as it answers. A special film experience for the adult film-goer.

Gender mis-placement is an important subject, even if it affects only a minority and deserves sensitive and imaginative treatment. This film offered neither. The plot was completely implausible; the casting mis-placed; and not even Tom Wilkinson (whose acting I greatly admire and usually enjoy) could rescue it. It was a great disappointment. We were given no evidence of how a marriage,which must have been under the most extreme stress, could have survived for 25 years and be regarded as the happiest in the area. The portrayal of the religious representatives was laughable in its superficiality (at some points I started to wonder whether this film was aiming to be a comedy.) The tortuous and lengthy process which must be completed before anyone can be accepted for gender re-alignment was short-circuited completely implausibly. The whole thing was a disaster.