The award-winning documentary Real Boy comes to WHRO TV tonight at 10 PM as the latest installment of this season’s Independent Lens, television’s largest showcase of independent documentary film.
The films follows the journey of trans teen Bennett as he navigates adolescence, sobriety, and the physical and emotional ramifications of his changing gender identity.
Filmed over the course of four years, Real Boy is a love story about a mother and son who rediscover connection with each other and find support from their communities. It’s a multi-layered but clear-eyed look at a family tested by a change they never imagined, the complexity of addiction, the healing power of music, and the unbreakable bond between mother and child.
Imagined and documented by Los Angeles filmmaker Shaleece Haas, the films bears her trademark balance of poignancy and humor combined with intimate character-driven storytelling.
The film has won numerous awards, including Best Documentary at the Twist Seattle Queer Film Festival, the James Lyons Editing Award for Documentary Feature at the Woodstock Festival, and the Audience Award – Best Documentary at the Frameline Film Festival.
