Framed to Perfection XXXIV

THE BOY IN THE DRESS (2014)

Director: Matt Lipsey

Cinematographer: Andy Hollis

If there’s a better image encapsulating British life in the 2000s, you’d be hard-pressed to find it.

The Boy in the Dress is the TV movie that made me finally come out of the closet about my transgender side, which I had been quietly contemplating for a few years prior to. I had no secret life. I wasn’t prancing around in a ballgown anytime my girlfriend left the house. I went straight to her and told her how I felt. The first time I wore women’s clothing, in this instance just a pair of trainers, was the first time I made anyone else (outside discrete online advice forums) aware of it. I thank star Billy Kennedy for giving me that strength, and I will do until I depart this life.

Sadly though, this bold honesty didn’t pay-off at the time, so me and my girlfriend split-up not long after (although we remained the best of friends). She just thought it was the weirdest thing ever.

Not all coming out stories have a happy ending.

I remain somewhat in the closet now, feeling that my feminine side is happy being very much a mental thing. The women I look up to the most are generally tomboy lesbian pixies anyway, so why does this shy, awkward, lonely nerd need to dress differently than he/she/whatever already does? If transgender rights is about not having to dress how people tell you to dress, then why should I dress like a woman just because I feel like a woman today?!

Fuck it.

I’m a man who identifies as a woman who identifies as a man. I’m the one who has to deal with that. Not you. Call me whatever the fuck you like. Freedom of speech and all that.

While this TV movie isn’t visually flashy, it hits its comedic beats perfectly. Beauty shots are hard to find, but interestingly-blocked ones are. It’s sweet and funny and also makes for an alternative Christmas movie. It also opens up the viewer’s mind to finding overweight, bald, middle-aged men sexy, which is no bad thing. Steve Speirs is just gorgeous as Dennis’ troubled father, who ends up bagging the fabulous Meera Syal.

Similar to Billy Elliot, only with football instead of ballet and way more little boys wearing pretty dresses.

Do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!