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A lot has happened in the world since Texas governor Greg Abbott launched an attack on trans kids and their parents, but trans rights advocates and allies haven’t forgotten. In last week’s alarming letter that is already being challenged by the ACLU, the Republican leader directed state child welfare agencies to investigate and potentially charge parents of trans children as child abusers, specifically any parent who supported their child in seeking medical interventions like hormone blockers or gender affirming surgery.

The letter came just one week before Abbott faces a challenging primary, and is seen largely as a political move to galvanize conservative voters. Even if this directive ends up carrying no legal weight — and, as these “investigations” have already started, that seems to sadly not be the case — the misinformation about trans kids contained in the widely read letter is a disturbing attack on trans kids that will reverberate the world over.

The Milk of SorrowIs there such a thing as a female gaze? It’s an almost perversely complicated question. On one hand, no doubt women’s desire has its own unique manifestations. On the other, the gaze implies the mind, and the idea of a “female brain” inevitably leads to some unpleasant associations. Should we then let the question be?Don’t expect the current retrospective on view at New York’s Film Society of Lincoln Center and dedicated to the female gaze—highlighting the work of women cinematographers—to be able to answer it in any definitive way. Yet some of its most fascinating films suggest that women cinematographers—and filmmakers—are able to transmit the idea, and the disconcerting sensation of always questioning gender and the expectations it entails into thrilling cinematic experiences. Among these, the pairings where both filmmaker and cinematographer are female prove particularly striking.Take...

Wolfe Video released the indie drama Tomboy earlier this week, on DVD June 5, after a successful run on the film festival circuit. We have a contest lined up where the winner can take home this DVD for their own collection. These prizes will go fast, so enter this contest today.

Winners Receive:

Tomboy DVD

Here's How To Win!

Just "Like" (fan) the MovieWeb Facebook page (below) and then leave a comment below telling us why these prizes must be yours!

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Tomboy tells the story of 10-year-old Laure (played by the amazing Zo&#233 H&#233ran) who moves to the suburbs and decides to pass as a boy amongst the pack of neighborhood kids. As "Mikael" she catches the attention of leader of the pack Lisa, who becomes smitten with her. Finding resourceful ways to hide her true self,...

Since its prestigious debut as the opening night film of the Berlin Film Festival's Panorama section (where it went on to win the Teddy Award), Writer-director Céline Sciamma's Tomboy has won numerous awards including “Best Feature Film” at the 2011 Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, the “Audience Award” for Best Feature at the 2011 San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, and the “Jury Prize” for Best Feature at the 2011 Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. In addition, the film is nominated for “Outstanding Film - Limited Release” at the 2012 GLAAD Media Awards. Tomboy will debut on DVD in the United States on June 5th courtesy of Wolfe Video. Bonus materials include a behind-the-scenes documentary featuring interviews with the director and cast. We consider Tomboy to be one of the best films about gender identity of recent years, so we jumped at the opportunity when Wolfe asked us to give...

★★★★☆ One of last year's hidden gems and BAFTA longlisted for Best Film Not in the English Language, Céline Sciamma's second feature Tomboy (2011) is a charming, bittersweet tale placed within the formative years of childhood. The child in this case is Laure (Zoé Héran), a 10-year-old French girl who has recently relocated to a new neighbourhood outside of Paris with her parents and younger sister Jeanne (Malonn Lévana).

Read more »...

30 Minutes Or Less (15)

(Ruben Fleischer, 2011, Us) Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride. 83 mins

After the heights of The Social Network, Eisenberg is demoted to a lowly pizza delivery boy for this casual caper movie. He's driven to rob banks at the behest of McBride's criminal non-mastermind, with buddy Ansari roped in for comic effect. In fact, comic effect seems to be all this is after. Like a dodgy pizza, it's enjoyable at the time but nutritionally dubious, a bit thin, and just about gone cold by the time it's finished.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (15)

(Thomas Alfredson, 2011, UK/Fra/Ger) Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Benedict Cumberbatch. 127 mins

A very British spy thriller that dispenses with all that hasty pacing and coarse action in favour of well-tailored men talking in rooms. A complex, classy cold war mole-hunt that demands attention, but rewards it richly.

I Don't Know How She Does It (12A)

(Douglas McGrath,...

Tomboy

Written and directed by Céline Sciamma

2011, France

Gwyneth Paltrow sported a fake moustache in Shakespeare in Love and Hilary Swank stuffed a sock down her jeans for Boys Don’t Cry. For Laure, the young heroine of Tomboy, it’s a tub of Play-Doh that helps prolong her dream of being one of the boys – at least for the summer.

Laure (Zoé Héran) has recently moved to a new neighbourhood, with her pregnant mum (Sophie Cattani), dad (Mathieu Demy) and younger sister Jeanne (Malonn Lévana). With her short hair, baggy T-shirts and lack of interest in dolls, Laure could pass for a boy. So when one of the local kids Lisa (Jeanne Disson) makes that assumption, Laure is quick to assume the identity of Michael.

Building a compelling drama around what she calls “the story of a lie”, writer/director Céline Sciamma once again shows that she’s well...

Director: Céline Sciamma Writer: Céline Sciamma Starring: Zoé Héran, Malonn Lévana, Jeanne Disson, Sophie Cattani, Mathieu Demy Upon returning from a summer retreat, Laure (Zoé Héran) joins her parents (Sophie Cattani and Mathieu Demy) and six-year-old sister, Jeanne (Malonn Lévana), at their new home. The new neighborhood means many things to Laure, including new friends, a new school, and a new identity. From first glance, Laure’s gender is inconclusive. With her prepubescent, 10-year-old frame and short haircut, Laure can easily pass for a boy. From what we can gather, Laure has been a tomboy for quite a while. Laure prefers to dress like a boy and play with boys and her parents seem too distracted to notice -- Laure’s father is away at work for most of the film and her mother is practically bedridden by pregnancy.