Let Me Die a Woman

Let Me Die a Woman was a semi-serious attempt in 1978 by underground director Doris Wishman to film the attitudes and lifestyles of sexually confused individuals who want to change their gender. The film also enlisted the aid of Dr. Leo Wollman M.D. (surprise, surprise, he's actually a legitimate doctor), who relates case histories of individuals who have had sex changes and the problems they face. We do get to see an actual sex change take place (although most of it's covered with a surgical sponge) and witness numerous probes of newly constructed sex organs. All pretense this has of being a real documentary falls apart quickly when it becomes a string of softcore porn scenes. Apart from that, several of the people being interviewed are obviously either homosexuals or women and while talking about dildos as medical aides for operatives, Dr. Wollman makes a bold statement by telling us that "not all dildos are used for medical purposes" (!) A tremendous amount of the impact of this film has been taken away by the so-called talk shows that feature these people as guests every week so that now, they seem routine rather than shocking. Though not Doris Wishman's best film, it is an interesting time capsule and on a camp level, Let Me Die a Woman is an entertaining film.