I watched this terrific film last night on Netflix with my transvestite partner and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in Transgender or Cross Dressing to watch .
Despite the fact its in French with English subtitles this is well worth the watch as its a wonderful story. It starts with a Cis female Claire the best friend of Laura who is mortified when Laura dies. Claire is the would be the lesbian partner that Laura never married instead both married men. Laura leaves a widower and a young baby one day Claire decides to visit the recently widowed man (Romain Duris) and finds a surprise when she enters the building. As the story progresses she develops a close bond with him, despite his compulsion to dress like a woman.
Personally for someone whops been through it all the story is very familiar such as the family shock as they find the guy in drag, also the Claire’s initial negative reactions such as calling him a sick pervert and suggesting he gets counselling. It takes a really lovely twist when she is disappointed he actually takes up counselling and stops dressing haeres a strong hint shes a female tranny admirer.
I won’t spoil it all but its really entertaining despite the slow start plus its got an interesting twist at the end .
Funny moments
There’s lots of funny incidents like the guy in the cinema who puts his hand on Virginia knee. Virgina being the female name that Laura’s ex husband is given by his female new best friend.
The winks form admirers and the reaction of the mother-in-law upon finding her son in law in full women clothes and wig during the day is priceless/
thenewgirlfriend
What the Critics Said About the film …
by Rex Reed of The Observer
The New Girlfriend is a funny, delicate, subtly flavored dish deliciously prepared by Francois Ozon – idiosyncratic and unforgettable.
Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Featuring winning performances from Romain Duris and Anais Demoustier, The New Girlfriend is one of Ozon’s most successfully transgresses titles over the last decade, and will hopefully be recuperated as such.
Ozon, perhaps not entirely purposely, addresses the very timely issue of trans and non-binary gender identity, yet he does it within the framework of his usual style and preoccupations – and shortchanges neither.
