May 22, 2019
Page 7
Arts &
ENTERTAINMENT
o PinionAted
J udge
by
d arleen o rtega
Two Films Not to Miss
As I write this, I’m headed to the Se-
attle International Film Festival, and I’m
sure I’ll come back with a host of film rec-
ommendations. But before that happens, I
don’t want to miss mentioning two films
that you might otherwise overlook, and
that I caught on limited theatrical runs.
“Seahorse” played at QDoc in Port-
land a couple of weeks ago, and so rocked
my world that it is a contender for my
list of the best films of 2019. It follows
the journey to parenthood taken by Fred-
die McConnell, who, as a trans man, is
one of a limited number of human males
who can, like male seahorses, undergo
pregnancy. Many things make that com-
plicated, of course, not least being other
humans who feel entitled to an opinion on
Freddie’s reproductive capacity. But also,
in addition to all the usual physical and
hormonal challenges of pregnancy, Fred-
die must also temporarily suspend tes-
tosterone therapy, which is critical to his
wellbeing in ways those of us who are not
trans can scarcely understand.
In what turns out to be a characteristic
display of self-awareness, Freddie, a jour-
nalist, sensed the importance of telling
his story well and also the importance of
enlisting someone else to help him do it.
He chose well in director Jeanie Finlay,
who spoke at the screening I attended. She
is a sensitive co-traveler through a very
difficult journey that deepened immea-
surably my sense of trans identity and the
meaning of parenthood and fatherhood.
Freddie’s candor and lucidity—and also
his increasing silence through the most
difficult parts of his experience of preg-
nancy—shed light on so many things I
had not understood before, and helped me
to be appropriately curious about things I
had not thought to notice.
Among them were the ways in which
our fear and assumptions keep us from
appropriate curiosity—which requires us
to hold our assumptions much more loose-
ly than we are prone to do. At one point
Freddie attends a dinner in which a group
of women attempt to support his journey
A transgender man’s path to parenthood is explored in “Seahorse, ” a new film that
will deepen your understanding of trans identity and the meaning of parenthood
and fatherhood. (Photo from Tribeca Film Festival.)
through pregnancy with remarkably little
awareness of or curiosity about how their
experience cannot possibly be the same as
his. At another, he is with relatives who
quickly turn to anger at him for simply
staking out some space for his own truth.
Freddie’s experience also made me reflect
on how pregnant women actually do expe-
rience some similar dynamics.
Freddie is blessed with a mother, Esme,
who balances his picture of fatherhood
with an inspirational picture of mother-
hood; her support throughout is so astute
C alendar
Victoria Day (Can-
ada)
Lindbergh Flight
Day in 1927
27
Memorial Day
Golden Gate Bridge
Opens in 1937
Masking Tape Pat-
ented in 1930
21
American Red Cross
Founded Founded
by Clara Barton in
1881
28
Jim Thorpe Born in
1888
22
Arnold Lobel born,
1933
Buy-A-Musical
Instrument Day
29
John F. Kennedy
Born in 1917
C ontinued on P age 11
May 2019
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
20
that he actually wants her there at the birth
of his child. We are also privileged to be
there, and it is one of the most moving
things I have ever witnessed. At this birth,
as well as many other moments in the film,
I felt that I was witnessing what it means
to be embodied in a whole new way. I am
forever changed. The film will air on the
BBC and is in negotiation for further dis-
tribution.
“Fast Color” had a short run in Port-
23
Lucky Penny Day
30
Ice Cream Freezer
Patented In 1848 by
William Young
FRIDAY
24
Mary Had A Little
Lamb Published in
1830
First Morse Code
Message Sent, 1844
31
Jay Williams born,
1981
World No Tobacco
Day
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
25
26
Martha Alexander
born, 1920
National Missing
Children’s Day
National Tap Dance
Day
Blueberry Cheese-
cake Day