Two Spirits (Lydia Nibley, 2009): USA

Reviewed by Paula Gomez.  Viewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, 2010.

Two Spirits is a heart-warming educational film that every gender-conscious individual will enjoy.  The title of the movie is a Navajo label pertaining to the population of individuals who are transgendered or transsexual in a Navajo community. This movie enlightens the transgendered identity misinformed individual, and encourages the two-spirited population worldwide to accept themselves for who they are.

Two Spirits, which was played at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, tells the story of Fred, a boy who although born male, felt he was both male and female. It encompasses the journey of his life and that of many others Navajo community members who have lived under the same circumstances. It does not take a long time for the movie to reveal that this boy has passed away; yet, most of the film is devoted to celebrating his life with compassion and respect.

A lot of the shots seen in the movie are of Fred’s mother at her home, telling the audience who Fred was and how she remembered him. Shots displaying the historical background of the transgendered population as seen through the Navajo community versus the westernized community, alternate with the shots of his mother. Eventually shots of the Navajo community members who associate themselves with the term two spirits, talking about what the term means to them and how it has impacted their lives, are revealed.

The movie does not take a new approach at documentary filmmaking. It’s talking heads, historical footage, photographic displays, and re-enactments are typical of any documentary film. Artistically, it’s kind of dull. Nevertheless, it’s compassionate and inspiring content is what makes it worthwhile. The content makes one look over the fact that the movie lacked unity. That its two stories, (Fred’s life vs. the history of transgendered individuals through Navajo culture compared to westernized culture), were poorly put together into one film. Even though the movie’s title calls attention to the number two, that does not mean that it will be better grasped by the audience in two separate forms or avenues. That effect can actually leave the viewer more puzzled and perplexed rather than enlightened. Fortunately, the colorful shots grab the audiences’ attention, meanwhile the melodic chants and the strong themes of self-acceptance and community embracement make them content.

I would recommend this movie to anyone who would like to learn a little bit more about transgendered identities. I wouldn’t recommend it, on the other hand, to anyone who is trying to find out what the latest artistic breakthroughs in the documentary film genre are. It is fair to say, nevertheless, that its content is uplifting for it promotes respect for our complex selves and our diverse communities. One is bound to walk out of the theater feeling more educated about gender identities and inspired to live their life to their fullest potential. One could even end up wiping a tear or two off of their cheeks for the stories in this documentary are full of sentiment, intelligence, and relevance to the way we live our lives in the 21^st century. It is an educational and compassionate film worth a gender-conscious person’s time.