Man Into Woman: The Transsexual Experience

Directed by John Ruane

The first documentary about Australian trans lives. Given only a limited release in 1983, it has rarely been shown since. Filmed in Sydney in 1981, the film unusually seeks to provide a voice for trans women and men of the time, in contrast with the sensational viewpoints that were a feature of most reportage of the period. Man into Woman features eight interviews with trans women and men, interspersed with the views of ‘authority’ represented by figures like the then Attorney-General of NSW Frank Walker. The film was a turning point in the Australian media for understanding the complexity and diversity of the trans experience.