Love is certainly in the air!
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY AMAZON MGM STUDIOS
In these scary times for the trans+ community globally, we must make space to celebrate trans joy. Get comfortable and get ready to experience all the feels with these five heartfelt trans rom-coms! They’re perfect for watching with a partner, best friend or simply as a treat by yourself.
Different For Girls (1996)
This pivotal piece of cinema is also a classic tale of clumsy romance. The British rom-com follows Kim and Paul as they navigate their friends-to-lovers storyline. Although Kim’s character is not played by a trans actor, the film has largely been heralded for its positive depiction of trans women in the 90s. Spoiler alert: it also has a happy ending too!
Boy Meets Girl (2014)
It’s likely that you’ve already seen this American rom-com a few times by now. Starring Michelle Hendley, Boy Meets Girl follows trans woman Ricky, who has big dreams to move to New York to attend a school of fashion design. When she meets new girl Francesca, romance seems to be on the cards. But where does that leave her only friend, Robby, who is starting to think his feelings are more than platonic?
Alice Júnior (2019)
This Brazilian coming-of-age film follows the titular character Alice Júnior as she embarks on her quest to have her first kiss. At the start of the film, Alice has it all: a YouTube channel, a loving dad, an almost-win on Teen Top Model and an exciting life by the beach. All this changes when Alice’s dad announces that they are moving to a conservative town where she will attend Catholic school. This Gen Z story is a beautiful and imaginative insight into trans lives in Brazil and the difficulties of being a teen in the digital age.
Anything’s Possible (2022)
Directed by Billy Porter, Anything’s Possible follows Kelsa and Khal as they navigate their budding romance in school. While their story has a few ups and downs, this heartfelt tale of first love is still a great one to stick on this Valentine’s Day.
Fanfic (2023)
This Polish drama, written by Karwowska and Grzegorz Jaroszuk, follows a story of self-discovery, with its protagonist, Tosiek, at the helm. After realising that he’s trans, Tosiek also finds himself falling hard for his classmate Leon.
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