Time Magazine: Don’t Applaud Jared Leto’s Transgender ‘Mammy’

[Dahlia]

Part of the problem is that trans characters in films past (and present) have overwhelmingly been represented as psychos and deviants and weirdos, oh, my. Either that or comedic fodder. This character is apparently both.

But, hey, if she doesn't get murdered in the end, we're ahead of the game, right?

Have you ever seen 'All about my mother' by Pedro Aldomovar (1999)?
The pre op MTF character is a former fiercely straight/very masculine  former guy/lesbian and of course  a bio father, of whom the ex wife at a certain moment sighs 'how can you be SO macho having a set of (silicone) t*ts like that?'

Nothing is even remotely feminine about the MTF; the personality, character, the voice, behaviour, manners,  the 'this is what a woman should look like' appearance including wig, big sili breasts, tons of make up, the hyperfeminine clothes  etc.
All of it is accurately for the average MTF.
All in all she could be easily mistaken for a fiercely straight CD but the storyline makes it clear she's a MTF.

The pre op MTF character/womaniser is HIV infected and in denial and infects and impregnates a catholic nun (Penelope Cruz)

The movie won 1 Oscar and as far as I know little or no comments from the MTF community.

I think Pedro Aldomovar is actually the only director who understood and knows the majority of MTF are very masculine ex straight guys/lesbians and who's very accurate in  portraying the average MTF.
'Man enough to be a woman', so to speak.

[BunnyBee]

I haven't seen the movie, but Friess says that she is the only character in the movie who is consistently used for comedy. That sounds to me as if she's being played at least partly for laughs. Is he wrong?

I mean there is a little of that, but it isn't like Tootsie or Mrs. doubtfire or Crocodile Dundee or whatever.   It is more like the character has a sense of humor, unlike anybody else in thr movie.   Not that there isn't any laughing at her (which is part of what disappointed me about it, and one of the things that reminded me of 80s tropes) but there is more laughing with her.  And in the end you are meant to sympathize wwith her and feel emotions for her plight.  Baby steps, i guess.