Director: Eric Schaeffer
Stars: Michelle Hendley, Michael Welch, Michael Galante, Alexandra Tushen, Joseph Ricci
You know, I watch a lot of movies and I review most of them on my blog. This can mean sometimes I feel obligated to watch movies rather than simply watch them for the sheer enjoyment factor, and occasionally I have to watch a run of bad and boring movies, and while it can be fun to trash them in reviews it does get a little old. But then I come across films that blow me away on every level, and it reminds me why I fell in love with movies in the first place.
Boy Meets Girl is one such film. Ricky (Hendley) is a transgender girl who begins flirting with Francesca, and the two of them start exploring their sexuality. But all the while there’s a simmering attraction between Ricky and her lifelong best friend Robby. It’s a film that is all about love, acceptance, hope, and the struggles we all face. It’s about having courage when things are difficult and trusting in those around you for support and love.
The film is often funny and heartfelt, but there are moments when it ramps up the drama and shakes you from the comfortable level you’ve reached. I really liked how Ricky isn’t just a token transgender character, but a real person, and it’s hopefully a landmark role because transgender people haven’t been represented that well in films. The characters are warm and witty, and I found myself quickly engrossed in the developments of these people. It’s superbly acted and there’s a subplot running through the film that brought me to tears in the end.
In some ways it feels like we’re entering the dawn of a new era where hopefully, as a society, we can be more accepting of people who are different than ourselves (which I think we should be anyway since we’re all different in one way or another but we all have one thing in common – we’re human, but that’s another discussion for another time). This film is very relevant and it has a universal message that people can identify with, and hopefully it will lead to some more understanding. This is an outstanding film and you have to watch it, it’s as simple as that.
