A Boy Named Sue (film)
Encyclopedia
A Boy Named Sue is a 2001 documentary film
directed by Julie Wyman. It shows the life and transition of Theo, a young adult, born intersex
, raised female
, involved in a lesbian
relationship, who undergoes various stages of a sex reassignment surgery
(including a mastectomy
and hormone therapy
) to become male
. The protagonist is filmed extensively throughout, gives a number of interviews, and eventually settles down as a gay male. The film's title is taken from the song A Boy Named Sue
.
. It was nominated for a 2004 GLAAD Media Award
.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
directed by Julie Wyman. It shows the life and transition of Theo, a young adult, born intersex
Intersex
Intersex, in humans and other animals, is the presence of intermediate or atypical combinations of physical features that usually distinguish female from male...
, raised female
Female
Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
, involved in a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
relationship, who undergoes various stages of a sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery is a term for the surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble...
(including a mastectomy
Mastectomy
Mastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely. Mastectomy is usually done to treat breast cancer; in some cases, women and some men believed to be at high risk of breast cancer have the operation prophylactically, that is, to prevent cancer...
and hormone therapy
Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy, or hormonal therapy is the use of hormones in medical treatment. Treatment with hormone antagonists may also referred to as hormonal therapy...
) to become male
Male
Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
. The protagonist is filmed extensively throughout, gives a number of interviews, and eventually settles down as a gay male. The film's title is taken from the song A Boy Named Sue
A Boy Named Sue
"A Boy Named Sue" is a song written by Shel Silverstein and performed by Johnny Cash. Cash was at the height of his popularity when he recorded the song live at California's San Quentin State Prison at a concert on 24 February 1969. The concert was filmed by Granada Television for later...
.
Distribution and reception
The film played at several festivals including the 2000 San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and Reel AffirmationsReel Affirmations
Reel Affirmations is a non-profit, all-volunteer LGBT film festival in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1991 and held every year in mid-October, Reel Affirmations is the third largest LGBT film festival in the United States and the largest all-volunteer film festival in the world.-Organization:Reel...
. It was nominated for a 2004 GLAAD Media Award
GLAAD Media Awards
The GLAAD Media Award is an accolade bestowed by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives...
.