D. Sabine Bernardi
2011 / Germany / 94min
German w/English sub

20-year-old Lukas is right in the midst of male puberty - medically triggered – for he was in fact born a girl. Full of the zest for life, he enters big-city life but even upon arrival encounters a major screw up: recruited for his community service he is the only male quartered in the female nurses’ residential hall. What would be a dream for any other boy is acute, everyday stress for transgender Lukas. Fortunately his best friend Ine sticks by him and sweeps him into the gay scene in Cologne. Here Lukas experiences his first real flirt – with the cheeky, daredevil and outwardly attractive Fabio. Fabio embodies all that Lukas lacks: disproportionately positive self-confidence and highly erotic masculinity. But Lukas, whose female attributes are still unaltered, is just about to express his desires. The initial attraction between the two boys gradually develops – until Fabio accesses the secret of Lukas’s identity and suddenly all are compelled to risk something for their feelings. ROMEOS dares to reveal a fresh insight into the subject of transgender and humorously and cheekily sets out to do away with conventional thought on such roles. It is a film about love, friendship and a quite remarkable sexual awakening.

D. Paul Neudorf
2011 / Canada / 12min
English

Calvin Neufeld and his family share the challenges and joys of transgender transition.