CARLOTTA

Australia, 2014, 90 minutes, Colour.
Jessica Marais, Anita Hegh, Eamon Farren, Socrates Otto, Andrew Lees, Ryan Johnson, Alex Demetriades, Caroline O’Connor?, Paul Capsis.
Directed by Samantha Lang.

Carlotta is made-for-television film about the Sydney celebrity, Richard Byron, who was the first man in Australia to undergo transgender surgery. Richard had become Carlotta, a star in drag programs, especially in Les Girls in King’s Cross.

The film was directed by Samantha Lang who made such films as The Well and Monkey’s Mask.

Many have criticised the choice of Jessica Marais to portray Carlotta, thinking it would have been better to have a male actor transformed into the famous drag queen. Not that Jessica Marie does not give a very good performance. She enters into the story and the character with great strength.

There is a very good supporting cast of Australian character actors and something of an expert re-creation of the period in Sydney, from the ordinary suburbs of Balmain to the exotic clubs of King’s Cross.

The film also shows the wariness at the time about transgender surgery, even of sons becoming drag queens, as was the case with Richard’s mother.

The film captures the spirit of the clubs, of Carlotta as a little boy, Richard, singing songs, performing, dressing in his mother’s clothes as well as his transition to working in a department store, designing windows and then the story of Carlotta.

1. A Sydney story, the 20th century? From the suburbs to King’s Cross? Transgender? Surgery?

2. The choice of an actress rather than an actor to portray Carlotta? The fine performance, her appearance as a teenage boy, adult, as transgender? Undermining the credibility of Carlotta’s experience?

3. The re-creation of the period, the look of life in those days, homes, Balmain, the little boy’s world? Department stores and windows and design? Sammy Lee, the clubs of King’s Cross? The visuals, costumes, make up? The King’s Cross world, the clients?

4. Richard Byron’s life, his age, experience, femininity, his songs and performances, dressing up, his mother’s wardrobe and make up? His mother upset? His stepfather and his brutality? The effect?

5. Richard going to the department store, meeting the two men, Danny and Christopher, their Style, Richard rather ingenuous? His delight with his work, the friends, the dressing up, going to the clubs? Richard and the transformation into Carlotta, style? Leaving home? His mother’s reaction? His stepfather glad that he was gone?

6. Keeping company with Ava and Christopher, the relationships? Going to the Sammy Lee’s clubs, Sammy and his character, his enterprise, his clients? Not favouring Carlotta? her taking Ava’ place? Success?

7. The clients, Ava and her boyfriend, his brutality, leaving her? The types, straight and gay?

8. The new club, Carlotta and her friends, persuading Sammy Lee? His introduction of Sheila, choreographer, the performances, the rehearsals, Sheila and her friendship, advice?

9. The clubs of King’s Cross? Drag clubs?

10. Ava and her strong bonding with Carlotta, the issue of transgender, Carlotta preparing for surgery, Ava not wanting it? The opportune time, going to hospital, the surgery, its consequences?

11. The performances, the competition with Peggy?

12. Carlotta’s mother, the phone calls, not having seen her son, the meeting of the Park, not able to accept Carlotta as a woman? Leaving? Yet the continued
contact? The depression and her husband leaving her? Interactions? Carlotta supplinnng the money for her mother? Her visits and their conversations?

13. Carlotta and clients, sexual encounters, behaviour, her disgust?

14. The background to the operation, application, the preparation, hormones, the surgery, Carlotta in hospital, the success, the effect on her and living like a woman?

15. Peter, at Les Girls, attracted, the relationship, the proposal, Carlotta’s acceptance? Peter taking her to meet his mother, the family, the issue of children? The wedding? The truth, Peter able to accept the truth? Carlotta staying? Her watching him with children, the decision that she should leave him so that he could find true love and have a family? The visit for the christening of the child?

16. The plan to go to the UK, the writer with Peggy, the friendship, the nature of the two, Carlotta not going, the later bonding with Peggy?

17. Carlotta, the subsequent career? A personality and celebrity in her own right?