Transamerica (film)

Transamerica is a 2005 American independent comedy-drama film written and directed by Duncan Tucker, and starring Felicity Huffman. The film explores themes of gender identity, family relationships, and acceptance.

The story centers on Sabrina "Bree" Osbourne (played by Huffman), a pre-operative transgender woman living in Los Angeles who is about to undergo sex reassignment surgery. Days before her surgery, she receives a phone call from a teenage boy in New York City claiming to be her son, conceived during a brief heterosexual encounter before her transition. Bree, pressured by her therapist to confront her past, embarks on a cross-country road trip to bail the young man, Toby, out of jail and take him back to his stepfather in Los Angeles, without revealing her transgender identity.

The journey forces Bree and Toby to confront their respective personal issues and develop an unlikely bond. Along the way, they encounter various challenges and characters that test their resilience and understanding of each other. The film received critical acclaim, particularly for Huffman's performance, which earned her a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination. While praised for its nuanced portrayal of transgender issues, the film has also been subject to discussion regarding its casting of a cisgender actress in a transgender role, a practice that has since become increasingly controversial. The film's soundtrack also garnered attention.