The Polish documentary Mów mi Marianna was shown in the U.S. with the title Call Me Marianna (2015). It was written and directed by Karolina Bielawska.
The film depicts the life of someone who is a biological man, but who is psychologically a woman. Her name is Marianna Klapczynska. She has been married to a woman, and has a child. Nonetheless, she wants to be a woman, and she never wavers.
Obtaining a transgender operation is difficult under any circumstances, but it is particularly difficult in Poland. The laws in Poland are bizarre--a person wanting a transgender operation must sue his/her parents! I don't know for what they are suing them, but they must sue them.
Marianna sees herself as a woman, takes pills for feminization, and ultimately has the surgery performed. She is then Marianna, but not many people are ready to accept this. Marianna's mother, in particularly, continues to call her by her male name. Marianna keeps insisting that she is no longer that person. She shouts to her mother, "Call me Marianna." (That's the source of the title of the movie.)
The filmmaker and Marianna had become friends. That's why, when problems arise, they make a joint decision to carry on with filming.
The director was present when we saw the film. During the Q&A session, a member of the audience attacked her for not knowing all about the transgender situation in Poland-- statistics, etc. Her answer was, "I was making a movie about Marianna, not about the whole country." Works for me.
As I write this review, the movie is carrying a dismal 6.5 rating. I don't understand this, because Call Me Marianna is much better than that. Don't let the low rating discourage you. If you can find this film, ignore the rating and watch it. It will work well on the small screen.
