| Trinidad | |
| Director: | Jay Hodges, PJ Raval |
| Producer: | Matt Dentler |
| Cinematography: | PJ Raval |
| Editing: | Kyle Henry |
| Studio: | Surly Puppy |
| Runtime: | 86 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
Trinidad is an American documentary film by Jay Hodges and PJ Raval. The film was screened at the IFP Market and IFP Rough Cuts Lab.[1] In 2009, the film premiered on Showtime.[2]
Dr. Stanley Biber began conducting sex reassignment therapy in Trinidad, Colorado, in 1969. Dr. Marci Bowers, a former patient of Biber, took over his practice after his death. Trinidad focuses on Bowers and two of her patients at different stages of their transition from male to female.[3]
Directors Jay Hodges and PJ Raval were intrigued by Trinidad's status as the "Sex Change Capital of the World" and the fact that Marci Bowers, the town's surgeon, had a transgender history. Neither director lived in the town, so they filmed in intervals of several months at a time.[3] [4] In an interview with Queerty, Raval said, "Our intention was not to sensationalize or exploit but to create something where people can see the universal struggle for self-expression and give people an opportunity to explore these concepts of gender and gender identity."[5]
Trinidad received $4,000 for production and $7,000 for post-production through the Austin Film Society's Texas Filmmakers' Production Fund.[6]
Trinidad features music by Antony and the Johnsons, The Cinematic Orchestra, and Julia Kent.[7]
Eric Campos, writing for Film Threat, gave the film 4 out of 5 stars and said, "Trinidad succeeds in presenting the materials for a better understanding of transsexual people and stands to be very instrumental in making the world outside of Trinidad, Colorado a safer place for them to live."[8] IFCs Stephen Salto commented, "Hodges and Raval arrive in town just in time to shoot the construction of Morning Glow, a recovery house that not only provides a dramatic arc for the story, but slyly demonstrates how post-ops are just like anyone else, in moments as simple as arguing over the proper trim for the doors of the house."[9]
| Category | Nominee | Result | ||
| Cleveland International Film Festival[10] | Best Documentary | Jay Hodges, PJ Raval | ||
| Los Angeles Film Festival | Best Documentary | Jay Hodges, PJ Raval | ||