Being the daughter of superstars
Sonny and Cher couldn't be easy. Then when the once blonde, dimpled little girl
decides that she feels she's a man trapped in a woman's body, everything
becomes an obstacle.
Becoming Chaz is about Chastity Bono's transformation from a woman
to a man and it highlights an operation to remove his female chest and legally
change his name. This isn't merely a story about a transgender man; it's the
story of the child of a celebrity, Cher no less, who seems to always be in the
spotlight herself.
The documentary was very interesting.
The operation is at the same time difficult and mesmerizing to watch; it opened
my eyes to how developed the gender reassignment industry has become. However,
Chaz mentions that technology is not advanced enough to develop male genitalia
for a female.
As interesting as it was to
watch, there was a lack of pure balance. Being Chaz Bono, you'll undoubtedly
always be associated with Cher and unfortunately the filmmakers couldn't decide
whether or not including Cher would be a distraction from Chaz's story.
Furthermore, there would be times when the documentary would focus on the idea
that there is really no such thing as "gender," but then immediately contradict
itself by saying that one thing was more masculine or feminine than another.
Simply put, the film could not pick a side.
I appreciate Becoming Chaz for the material. The filmmakers handled it with great tact. Although I have a few criticisms, I'm
really glad I saw it.
