Normal

So,I watched this film-2003's made-for-tv Normal starring Jessica Lange & Tom Wilkinson,about this man who passes out during his wedding anniversary party-wakes up,and comes to a sudden revelation that he was really born as a woman in a man's body-and what follows is his slow but carefully mapped out transformation into that new persona,while the rest of the world watches disgustedly and disapprovingly.

I did the usual bit of research and read few reviews on the film-most of which were mercilessly harsh,often pointing out that they thought the main character was too unrealistic and a bit of a joke.I wouldn't go so far as to call him a joke,but his motivations for changing gender are pretty much left unexplained and before you can get a hint of logic or reason to his intentions he's already wearing earrings and growing boobs.But there's a stellar quality in the relationship between the wedded couple-most notably the wife's reaction,as she first deals with the issue with denial,then as she slowly comes to a realization that it's all not going away-added with the fact that her husband's determined to change himself-she embarks on this lonely journey of trying to detach herself from her husband.

Then what happens next,is just so beautiful.She slowly comes to an acceptance,and realises that the heart works on it's own accord-her husband,whose character in this film is seen as an outsider and we're left to try and understand him from a frustrating distance,at least has some humanity to his presence-he knows what he wants and the consequences,but he also knows without a doubt that he will never stop loving his family.It's a bit bewildering at first,like when his wife asks him why he needs a vagina if he doesn't want to fuck men-and he says it'll make him feel complete-you can see he's confused about few things and prefers to leave matters uncertain,but you know there's nothing more sure and real than this man's love for his wife and kids.

And there's this bit where the priest tells the wife that he gives her permission to leave her husband "without worry or regret",and that God would be forgiving-she looks to the priest with this look that conveys utter shock-then she smiles,although her eyes display a deep sadness-and says "Walk away?....He's my heart..my heart..my heart"...and that moment got me bawling like a child.It's not a great film,there a couple of scenes that can be edited out-this part near the end when they suddenly bring in his Alzheimer-stricken father and try to score few points with the audience there is a bit pathetic,and again,the characters a bit vague,sometimes their personal problems overpowering the characters themselves-but the essence it loyally holds in the centre,this tiny bit about the relationship between the married couple,how the family members approach the problem differently but ultimately come to a peaceful consensus (even it means a lot of shouting and crying is involved in the process) and how you can change everything around you,even how you look or who you are,you can't alter emotions with equal ease or chaste-it's not something you can decide,not something you can discernibly control,it's an immortal life on it's own-is something worth praise.

And I found that particular bit touching,so do give the film a chance if you happen to tune in to HBO one day and find the movie playing.