Sundance 2022

“Framing Agnes” is a conversational exploration of the transgender experience in America. A published interview with 19-year-old Agnes by Dr. Garfinkel at UCLA is widely purported to be the "first sociological case study of a transitioning person." It was considered an exceptional (even sensational) case for its time. Researchers discovered several interviews conducted by Dr. Garfinkel that were never before published. This film re-enacted some of those interviews verbatim from the transcripts and performed by contemporary trans actors. More than just watching the actors perform the dialogue, director Chase Joynt also engages the actors in conversation about their own experiences and how they relate to the experiences of these figures from the 1950s and 1960s. The juxtaposition of the experiences of the actor and subject is illuminating. Sometimes Joynt's interjections work exceptionally well to that end. That said, the style of this documentary takes some getting used to. Even though Joynt presents the performance of the transcripts in black and white and the contemporary interviews in color, the switches can sometimes be disorienting. I occasionally lost track of which period we were talking about. Admittedly though, this is a unique way of looking at this topic through our cultural lens. Zackary Drucker, Angelica Ross, and Jen Richards all had great perspectives to share but also gave great performances. Worth checking out. 

— 3.5 / 5 ⭐