In a world that centres the needs and the perspectives of "stunning and brave" trans women, Indian film maker Vaishnavi Sundhar lends a voice to the voiceless, their ex partners and children.
Who are the so called "trans widows"? Women. A young Mom of 4, a professor, a Japanese career woman, a hijabi, a German teacher.
Although their lives could not be more diverse, they all tell a similar story: What looks like a beautiful story of "self discovery" on the outside is often an abusive relationship with a narcisstic fetishist who puts his desires above the needs of his family. Goes through porn-fuelled binge / purge cycles. Recruits the children as a validation prop.
Worse still, unlike other women going through a breakup or a bereavement, the women discover that they are expected not to share their feelings of grief, betrayal and bewilderment - but to act as a human therapy animal to the person formerly known as their husband or father. The stories are cleverly woven together with tidbits on the history of the trans movement and its current incarnation on social media - a poorly disguised celebration of male sexual fantasies, objectifying and appropriating womanhood.
Vaishnavi Sundhar's film, not unlike its predecessor "Dysphoric", is unique and beautiful in its message of female solidarity in a world that too often tells women that their feelings don't matter. Must watch.