honestly speaking, i went into this movie thinking i wouldn't finish it because it's too transphobic or just bad representation (especially because the title sort of implies trans women are men who play dress up) but i was pleasantly surprised by this. i personally think they portrayed the feelings and internal struggles lgbtq+ people feel and showed multiple sides of trans women and not just one fixed type of woman very well. not only does this movie have interesting characters (and a complex well written main character), it also has multiple interesting storylines. though some people may find more than one storyline in a movie a bit too complicated and muddled, i personally like them and how they make ji wook into a more complex and detailed character.

the side criminal/cop storyline where the gangsters of the town are fighting it out kinda pushes the “manly” point across about ji wook and how she feels pressured to be a certain type of person that she is not. then there is the main storyline about ji wook’s internalized struggles about what it means to be a woman and her struggles to find comfort in being who she is, as well as her struggles of growing up (as what is perceived to be) gay in a society where being gay isn’t seen as “normal” or “right”.  though it is inclusive, it does still have some transphobic comments. i personally think this is used to drive the storyline of ji wook not being able to find peace in her sense of self worth and identity. there are stereotypes in this that i think weren’t necessary (lifting of the pinky) and more things plot wise that i don’t think were necessary (ji wook and jang mi kiss scene) but overall, i find the story to be interesting.  especially when i compare it to other movies with trans people in them.

despite the wonderful things about this movie, they ultimately ruined it with the ending. the whole story was about ji wook finding peace within herself and fighting her way into a positive attitude about her sense of self and they destroyed it (for no reason what so ever) and brought her even further back in terms of acceptance than she was in the beginning. i think they were just trying to showcase how hard it is to find peace and acceptance with yourself, especially when it feels like the world is stacked up against you, but i personally think they should have at least given her somewhat of a decent happy ending where she feels confident being herself.

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