ROMEOS

Germany, 2011, 90 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Sabine Bernardi.

There have been a number of films about transgender (Transamerica, for instance, or Second Serve, about the tennis player, Dr Renee Richards) but they are about male to female transitions. Romeos is concerned with FTM, Female to Male transition. This was also the subject of an Iranian film, Facing Mirrors (2011) which dealt with its subject more seriously, the personal repercussions as well as the social and family difficulties (even though such surgery was judged by Ayatollah Khomeini to be in harmony with Sharia Law).

The context here is contemporary Germany, social pressures and misunderstandings, but also a context of freedom of sexual behaviour and hedonism which puts the proceedings into more of a niche as the girl who is in process of becoming a man becomes involved in clubbing and relationships.

Miriam (played by Rick Okion) is undergoing medical transformation processes (and communicating by internet with others in similar situations) but has to do civil service. Placed in a home for the elderly and in a girls’ dormitory, Lukas (as he is becoming) fights to be transferred to the male dorm. With him is his school friend, Ine, who is lesbian, Lukas is self-conscious but has an urge to go out and about. He encounters Fabio, one of those extraverted stud types who is gay. This brings most of the action into a gay context which is both confusing and distracting in terms of transgender. Lukas wants to be loved but is also comparing himself and his changes with the seemingly (physically) perfect Fabio. This means that a lot of the film is to do with relationships rather than identity. Since the action takes place over only a few weeks, it is all rather inconclusive, though triumphant in spirit.
As for realism, one wonders what counselling and psychological assistance and advice Lukas has been given to cope with the complexities. None seems to be in evidence.

1. The information about transgender? Female to male, FTM? The film as informative, empathetic? Representing the various views of society?

2. The German treatment, frankness, the world of German youth and behaviour, needs, sexual identity? Adults seen only in the background?

3. The summer setting, the social work in the old people’s home, the range of clubs, same-sex environment, the beach, homes? The musical score, the club music? The insert of the classical song, the transvestite singing it, the lyrics, a moving rendition of the song in the context of the action and characters?

4. The introduction to Lukas, on the internet, the characters, the information about their behaviour in terms of transformation, medication, problems? Comparisons and support?

5. Lukas’s back-story: as Miriam, growing up as a girl, his younger sister, parents, friendship with Ine? Beginning the process?

6. Lukas being billeted with the girls, the shower episode and their reaction, the authorities, the sympathetic nurse, the explanation to the official, bureaucratic reactions, the negative decision? The nurse taking the decision on her own authority?

7. Lukas and his exercises, measurements, hormone treatment? Growth, the psychological aspects, the secrecy, self-consciousness?

8. The character of Ine, as a friend, lesbian and her relationships, an emotional young woman, her needs? The pool games, the questions to Lukas, condemning Lukas as self-centred and unable to listen to her problems?

9. Lukas and his needs, social, self-awareness, the comparisons with the other young man, especially Fabio? His physique, macho action?

10. The crowd, the young people going out, the car, Fabio and his driving, racing the other car, Lukas and the enthusiasm, wanting to be macho, the dancing, the same-sex clubs, identity issues, the crowds and their dancing, pairing off, the bathroom and his appendage, making jokes, his embarrassment, yet joining in to cover himself? Seeing Fabio in the car, Fabio and his physique, behaviour, Fabio taking his coat, the chase?

11. Lukas and his work, with the old people, going out, the friendship with Sven, Sven and his boyfriend, his break-up, their getting wet, Fabio and his coat?

12. The birthday, wanting his sister to tell the lies, his sister liking Fabio, her tantrum, exposure, his hitting her?

13. The effect on Lukas, on Ine, people knowing? Sven and the talk, drinking, going to the room, Lukas making a stop?

14. Lukas’s visit to Fabio’s house, meeting his parents, Fabio’s angry reaction, knowing that he lived with his parents?

15. Fabio, the public clashes, his hurtful attitude, the games of pool, the young girl, her going with Ine, Fabio and Lukas together?

16. The passionate experience, the meeting in terms of gender, identity, emotions?

17. The ending, the transformation for Lukas, exhilaration in the sand? Future?

18. The lack of psychological help for Lukas in the transformation period? The need for counselling? The film’s narrow focus in time, experiences?