Southern Comfort

As a 48 year old black woman with a multiracial background, I know a lot about diversity and I always love learning, the good, and the bad because you know who and what to stay away from. This documentary was very beautiful, yet very horrific because the treatments Robert received was horrific! Can you imagine being turned down by 2 dozen Doctors because of how you identify?! The movie / documentary touched me on so many levels. You care for the people, you care for what they are going through, By the end of the documentary/movie, it hits you these are REAL PEOPL AFFECTED! Not characters playing a role, that this actually happend to them!

I've watched this film dozens of times. It's an extremely powerful work. The timing of the filming, the choices and direction, and the rural country aesthetic are worthy of the title. I'll be watching it again soon.

This has to be the best documentary I have ever seen. Just a matter of time when someone will do a movie about Robert Eads, the most extraordinary southern cowboy. This documentary could have been mediocre if it wasn't for him, his incredible wit, optimism and intelligence. A real man from head to toes who ironically died of a widespread ovarian cancer, primarily because no doctor wanted to treat a transsexual. It is a marvelous real life drama that doesn't preach, it simply delivers the story that deeply touches you, points out the stupidity of prejudices and inhumanity of American health system and rises questions about what gender really means.

This film won the Grand Jury Documentary prize at Sundance this year.

Against the narrative of Robert, a transgender female-to-male responding to the irony of ovarian cancer, the director creates a deeply moving portrayal of love and determination in the face of prejudice.

Robert lives in rural Georgia, which he describes as "Bubba country" and the "home of the KKK." Nonetheless most of Robert's encounters with the heterosexual community are recounted as upbeat examples of surprising tolerance. Without any pretense, artifice, or apology, he is magnetically compelling in speech and movement. His complete lack of bitterness sets aside the distractions of his cancer, enabling the viewer share his satisfaction in life as a man and his joy in his relationships.

In spite of challenging subject matter, this documentary of Robert's self-selected "family" of transgendered men and women (and one heterosexual partner) is unerring in its ability to humanize without condescension. By not politicizing or sensationalizing her subjects' gender issues, the director has achieved a profoundly affecting emotional depth.

The film is loving and in its clarity, refreshing. I recommend it highly.

I recently viewed the documentary "Southern Comfort" and I can see why it won a prize at Sundance. This documentary chronicles the final year in the life of a transsexual man named Robert. It shows how prejudice and ignorance harms those whom are viewed to be "different" in our society. This film shows the love of Robert and Lola, as well as Robert's adopted family. I highly recommend this film.