Southern Comfort
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.28 You Save: $10.67 (53%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $8.75 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Southern Comfort
Movie Review: Transformed Man
Summary: 5 Stars
"Southern Comfort" is a powerful, gripping documentary chronicling the final year of Robert Eads.Eads was born a woman (his son and his parents still refer to him in feminine ways), but has transitioned to masculinity--and in a tragic twist, is dying from uterine/ovarian cancer. He has a "chosen family" down in Georgia--young men who were born women, and Lola,a woman who is transitioning from manhood. In his final year, Eads finds love with Lola. On the surface, they look like the conventional heterosexual couple. Eads says that when he was female, he wasn't a lesbian, but a straight man who loved woman. He finds a woman who is still, to a certain extent, a man.
"Southern Comfort" is the name of the transgender convention that Eads and his friends attends. Eads describes it as a cotillion/coming out party. Despite his frailty, Eads is able to attend and make a speech. Tragically, Eads has been denied medical care... simply because he's transgender. One scene juxtaposes Maxwell (a former female) and his girlfriend Corry (a former male) taking hormonal injection shots, while Eads is taking his cancer drugs. He introduces his friend Cassie, an outcast of sorts because her husband was formerly female. Eads says of Cassie "she doesn't have a lesbian bone in her body."
"Southern Comfort" is a powerful documentary about the human condition and gender identity. Eads' call for compassion resonates with the Golden Rule and the Hippocratic Oath "first, do no harm." It ends with his ashes being scattered under a Christmas tree. One gets the sense he found peace.
Movie Review: Inspirational!
Summary: 5 Stars
This film started out to be a curiosity for me and turned into a near tearjerker. This award winning documentary follows Robert Eads and his girlfriend, Lola Cola, during the last year of Robert's life (ironically, he's dying of Ovarian cancer). The story is told with Robert in the lead with his many friends and family around commenting on how life simply is. It's told in such a matter of fact way, you wonder they don't all just give up. In the extreme face of adversity, discrimination and hate, they have the courage to continue living. In fact, they prefer the isolated redneck country, as even in the more liberal city, there is more prejudice.All the `female to male' guys are believable and only Lola Cola seems more like a drag queen, but this attitude soon diminishes as you see Lola for who he/she really is. Lola is simply a loving, caring person; someone that you feel just doesn't deserve this kind of hardship. In fact, none of these fine people deserve their fate. However, this film is careful to keep in the middle and there is no smaltz and few judgmental remarks - except, oddly enough, between themselves. These are people who have the courage to face their lives and live them to the fullest.
It might be difficult to try and get into the heads of these people, but it is an exercise worth the effort. What one ends up seeing are simply true human beings with emotions and love for each other. This is something that seems to be lacking in so many other areas of society. This documentary is an invaluable slice of life. It is truly inspirational.
Movie Review: Sensitive, educational and inspirational.
Summary: 5 Stars
This incredibly moving and well-done documentary centers on Robert, a F to M transsexual who has love, grace, wisdom, and seems like an ordinary guy in many ways had you not known that he had been born female. The story is also about Robert's many and colorful friends, who, like Robert, have struggled with the rigid labels -- and behaviors assigned to those labels -- by a culture that is intolerant of anyone who dares to deviate from a restricting norm.
The "heart" this documentary displays is rooted in the community of friends, lovers and family, some of whom try to transcend their culture's ideas of what male and female should be. Ultimately, the support and understanding exhibited by most of the people in this film triumph. We learn what it means to be a compassionate human being.
Although Robert died of cervical cancer, as he had never had his uterus removed (ironically, no doctor would agree to treat him), this film is a lasting and memorable tribute to the humanity we are all capable of. Whether you are transsexual, homosexual, bisexual, heterosexual, asexual, or anything in between, this documentary is an inspiration to us in our goal to become more human(e) -- and thus express our true divinity. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: A Compelling Human Story
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a beautifully made documentary about the last year in the life of Robert Eads, who was denied treatment for his cancer just because he is a member of a heavily descriminated minority. It is obviously a low budget film, but well edited and the story is told in a compelling manner. I became caught up in the emotion of the film and became angry at the injustice. Robert comes across as a lovable and loving human being who does not deserve the fate handed to him. We come to know Robert and his circle of friends, including Robert's girlfriend Lola, all of whom struggle with Robert's fate. This documentary won many awards and it shows. It also has aired on the Sundance channel and HBO.
I also recommend the bonus features on this DVD, especially the additional footage of Robert that had been cut from the final film. The additional footage gives more background on how Robert attempted to seek treatment for his cancer and was denied. He also says some touching things about his parents and their acceptance of Robert's life.
Give this film a chance, and it will open your heart as well as your mind. Please see it.
Movie Review: Eloquent and real
Summary: 5 Stars
The film tells the story of Robert Eads, a female to male transsexual living in a trailer park in rural Georgia who has learned he is dying of ovarian cancer and is having trouble finding a doctor willing to treat him.
Robert tells his story with a quiet dignity. He is outwardly every bit male, a pipe smoking, rugged cowboy type who was once asked to join the KKK by some of his neighbors who did not know his past. Helping him through his illness are friends, some transgender like himself, his children and his girlfriend, Lola Cola, a male to female transsexual. Their interactions and glances on screen document a relationship that is filled with passion, tenderness, and love.
This subject is unheard of and uncomfortable for some but the film encourages tolerance with a simple straight forward approach. While many may feel far removed from his circumstance, SOUTHERN COMFORT is ultimately a portrait of a man who loves and is surrounded by love. An eloquent way to show just how much like everyone else he is.