The Real Thing - Transgender Short Film

Original link:

When a soldier returns home, things have often changed. For Staff Sergeant Michael Waltze, the ultimate change is in his child. While on his tour of duty, his daughter has transitioned and started living her truth. Today he is coming home to surprise her.

Parental love is unconditional. It transcends a person's memory of their child. The Real Thing is an infinitely stronger bond.

Starring:
Allie - Sophie Giannamore
Michael - Michael Torpey

Writer/Director - B Kelley
Producer - Jon Gestal
Director of Photography - Greta Zozula
Production Designer - Michael Mizrahi
Costume Designer - Liz Kelley
Casting - Mia Cusumano
Color - Josh Spector
Graphic Design - Emily Maxwell

35mm Kodak Vision3
250D, 500T
Arricam LT
Arri Master Anamorphic Lenses

Shot on location in Long Island, NY

[brandommedia]

Hi all, thanks for watching the film and please feel free to comment your thoughts below. I love hearing from everyone about their personal stories/connection to the material.

Also, it's pretty obvious but the film's link was posted on an incel/white supremacy site so they're spending their time posting cloned hate messages. Just ignore them, not worth wasting your time trying to engage.

[FireWolf]

Parents raise their kids to be themselves and be confident in their self identity. So why some parents refuse to accept or allow their kids to be themselves is beyond me.
You do not deserve to be called a parent if you allow your own beliefs to prevent your children from being themselves. Whether they are trans, gay, non-binary, whatever it is. Let them be them!

[Kasey.Walker]

Something which I found very powerful is that there was only two bits of spoken dialogue. The teacher calling her Robert and her father calling her Allie. The father literally embracing his daughter. It was very poignant and, as I say, powerful.

[soulcross]

Dude I cried so hard 😭😭
Just seeing his face slowly light up as looks around is daughter’s room absolutely broke me. This is what every parent should aspire to be. Loving unconditionally. And don’t even get me started on the ending when he called her by her name, Niagara Falls is just coming out of my eyes. I adore this so much, thank you thank you!

[DoofusDomainCleric]

I'd rather read my childs chosen name a million times than have to read their obituary because i wouldn't. If you cant understand that, then you genuinely aren't human.

[RowanRed]

I’m a disabled veteran, medically retired as a result of injuries in theater (OIF and OND) and PTSD. I was an infantry line medic and US Army sergeant. I’m also a transgender woman, having come out in 2015 and began my transition the following year. I remember seeing this short film years ago and crying at the end, the acceptance and unconditional love of family is not something many of us face. People tend to fear what they don’t understand, and unfortunately that leads to a lot of willful ignorance, misinformation, and bigotry. So thank you for creating such a touching film.

And to all these shitbags in the comments below making disparaging remarks - If you don’t like trans people serving in the military, take their place. Less than a quarter of a percent of people in this country are military. If you can’t or won’t put your money where your mouth is, then shut up, cowards.

[TBHNotGonnaLie]

Now that's a real man, to accept his daughter the way she is

[bliplox]

i’m really sorry that the wrong people found this video, and i hope that one day they learn to think for themselves. it’s great. everyone should get to experience unconditional love like this at least once in their lifetime.

[Tnfl_ht]

As a child currently going through a gender crisis, this is a very emotional short film and I adore it so much. I love reading these comments and seeing the amount of support y'all are getting for this.

[jjkkyukie]

I've seen this so many times, but every. single. time. the father says "hi Allie, " my heart melts and I tear up

[BootyyShaker]

Every time I come across this film I start sobbing.

To be accepted unconditionally by a parent... that's like my dream come true.

[Xballawanaka]

Damn that's brilliant, the tension building up, and the release when he calls her "Allie"... made me teary :')

[captainkg]

One of my best friends in the world is a trans lesbian. Her birth family never accepted her. When she came to my state to visit with her wife, I just told her "You are like a sister to me, so my mom is now your mom too." I even introduced her and her wife to my mother.

This is a wonderful short film, and I am thankful you made it. :)

[clairepowell]

I have been out for nearly 18 months and most of my immediate family still refuses to acknowledge my name. They have no idea how happy it would make me if they did.

[AmaraGren]

As a trans woman ty so much for this. The father's reaction is perfect.

[JalynCommentary]

This is such a sweet film, The world would be a much better place if everyone was like him

[luco]

Ok but I love how the girl next to her just silently shows her how to put in the hair clip. It was adorable. And now they're matching

[darthwyvvern]

i have a young trans man in my life. He told me his story and how his mother and family have essentially refused to accept who he is. I told him, as a stranger on the internet, that he was now my nephew. I have helped him, encouraged him, listened to him in ways that no one had ever listened to him. I promised him, and myself, that since I was ostracized by my own family that I would be the person i never had in my life. I'm proud of him. He's doing so well.

[jamieantonsson]

watch me spam some positivity because apparently spam is okay when the transphobes do it

this is better than most movies I've ever watched

[oneofthesams]

4:51 I love this moment. I like to think that this is a bear that Allie got when she was a baby, and this is the dad picking it up and looking around thinking "this is still my kid"