User Reviews

The movie explored the lifestyle of a transsexual and the discrimination they have to suffer through. The only thing that really confused me was the difference between a transvestite and a transgendered person. Because in the beginning the main character seems to be fine with being a man during the day, and a woman at night - however gradually see that more of his time is dedicated to being a woman and less a man.

I thought the main character's acting was great since it must have been such a difficult role to play. He was a beautiful man which made it easier as an audience to watch him transform into a woman and sympathize over his situation. What I found really interesting was how the sex was performed differently, at first when he is having sex as a man he is aggressive and wild however he is not satisfied. When he confesses that he is a transvestite, the sex is completely different - he is having sex in a more sweet, slow, girly way. That had a great impact on me when I was watching the movie.

When we see her (?) walking into the office building, near the end I thought I had figured out the ending completely. I thought that he was going to walk in and let everyone know who he was, but the slight twist was very interesting and caught my attention until the very end. It was a bit corny at times but it was definitely a great movie to open up your thoughts on transvestites/transgendered people.

The original book was just the (true) story of the love affair between Gerald/Geraldine and Monica Jay; the part about the business deal, the crooked boss and the Japanese clients was added for the film. I have to say that I found the sub-plot less than credible, but enormous fun all the same - especially the come-uppance. Yes, the ending is OTT, but it IS meant to be a dream sequence.

The UK transvestite association "Northern Concord" was involved in the research and some of its members were extras in the filming, which perhaps goes a long way to explaining why this is one of the very rare films which shows the world of cross-dressers as it really is. In most of the others (Tootsie, Mrs Doubtfire, Some Like it Hot...) the heroes aren't transvestites at all but ordinary guys who cross-dress to save their life, career or relationship with their children.

Just Like a Woman follows the story of a transvestite man's life with both the elements of drama and light comedy. The film follows his struggles and process of accepting himself his relationship with society by being a transvestite.

Gerald, by society's standard, seems to live a perfect life, a successful career and a family. But he lives a double life and by night turns into Geraldine, a transvestite who is only known by his friends with in the community. He struggles with this double life, and is frightened by the consequences if he ever lives an overlap between his two identities. After meeting Monica, gradually he becomes comfortable with his identity, mostly by the help of finding an accepting partner. Although there have been many films that portray human sexuality, there are less films that tells the story of particularly transvestites. For an average person to understand the motifs and psychology behind a transvestite person, this film succeeds in introducing this particular identity through its easy to watch genre. The broad definition of "transvestite" is simply explained; a man that is attracted to the opposite sex but has the urge or will to dress-up, or become a woman. . Gerald and Geraldine are both capable of living quit a successful life and are not mentally impaired but only has an disadvantage because of society's perception on his identity.

It does not quiet explore the deeper reasoning behind it, but the film works in a sense that analyzing may not be always a necessity when one's sexuality is portrayed; it's just the way they are. Which is the essential goal of accepting one's sexuality or identity, is to accept them who they are.

I heard someone say that all men are born with a desire to dress as a woman. Well, I don't know if its true for all, but Gerard in this movie is surely one of them. However, it makes the concept of transvestism complicated because the movie include aspects from Kabuki and Scottish kilt skirt, which are not at all related to cross dressing. Also, I was confused with his female character Geraldine. If he feel as a she, would he still be a transvestite? Very difficult to categorize him. Overall, the movie glamorizes transvestism too much. I really feel the intension and doesn't seem natural. Seems totally fiction, and I don't really appreciate that. But the story itself is pretty interesting. Very melodramatic.

'Just Like A Woman' is a very amusing story with an attractive leading character, Gerald who is charming and interesting. He is a heterosexual male who feels happiest when he is wearing women's clothes. He is at first so ashamed of this, and so afraid of judgments that he hides this desire from everyone, and lives in fear of discovery.

In the beginning of the movie his wife and children come home unexpectedly early from a trip, and find women's clothing, make-up, and accessories. His wife accuses him of having an affair and files for divorce. Gerald could have tried to explain that he was a transvestite, however chooses not to so that he doesn't have to live with the fear of loosing his job or from any other social pressures that could be pressed upon him. Gerald then moves into a boarding house and meets Monica, an older woman who discovers his transvestism. Monica is very supportive of Gerald, and his feminine personality, Geraldine.

This movie is entertaining, but lacks in substance, that is to say that the character of Gerald/Geraldine is not fully developed. The sexuality of the character is identified as entirely male, however his gender identity is not entirely relieved in the movie. In the beginning we think that Gerald is a transvestite, meaning that he identifies his gender as a male, but likes to wear women's clothing for either fun, or to make himself feel more comfortable.

Gerald's character seems to be confused of his own gender as he begins to have a relationship with the supportive Monica. She is at first thrown off by his transvestitism, but it becomes part of their sex play, which moves from being transvestitism to being a fetish. It is not explained if it is part of a fetish for him in the movie, but as Monica talks to some of her girlfriends about it she admits to finding it very exciting. Therefor she may be helping him discover his nature and gender in a way to satisfy her new desires.

In the end of the film Gerald goes to a business meeting as a woman, stating that he and Monica were in business together. At first he is not entirely recognized, but is still shy and afraid of being found out, but by the end of the meeting he decides to give a shock to a man that had wronged him before. In this scene, it appears that Gerald is more willing to be seen publicly in as a woman. So it appears that he has become transgendered rather than being a transvestite. (Meaning that he is beginning to see himself as a woman in gender). This movie would be much more interesting if the film was willing to express the differences in sexuality, and gender identity.

Just like a Woman is a comedy drama, and I like this film very much. The storyline is very interesting and unique. It is my first time to watch transvestite movie, and some of the scenes touches me. I love when Gerald tells Monica that he actually enjoy wearing girls make up and clothes. The relationship between them also impressed me a lot. It shows the tolerance of their love. The concept in this film might reflect part of the society nowadays since we can see many transvestites' artists and people in the TV show. This film proves that the transvestite people are not weird, and Gerald actually reveals his great ability in his career. It is interesting to see that Gerald seems happier when he is wearing woman's costume and make up. However, he is not bisexual or homosexual. The message in the film clear reach to the audience that there might be many transvestite people around us. Since they dress normal outfit in the day time, people cannot judge by their appearance to tell if they are transvestite. I admire how Monica encourages Gerald to go out with his women outfit, and it illustrates that there love is deep and different from other couple. Overall, I recommend that everyone should watch this film; Adrian Pasdar shows his best acting in the character.

This film is a comedy drama which depicts the struggles of a transvestite man in his thirties. He constantly suppresses his obsession due to the social attitude towards this habit. Transvestite is a rather complicated topic and the one portrayed in this film is just one of the many examples. The story line is set up in a way in which the audiences are led to think in the same way as the ex-wife of Gerald. Tension is built up and the story gradually progresses to the truth that he is indeed a transvestite. Editing is nicely used to uncover the truth step by step. Acting of the two main characters is fantastic, they are able to bring the audiences to their position and look from their perspectives. The break down scene of Geraldine when Monica drove "her" home from the police station is so touching that almost makes me cry.

However, a coin has two sides; and of course, this film has its weaknesses. It is confusing sometimes for the audiences to understand the logic of Genrald. For instance, he could not have sex relationship with Monica being Gerald but he could do it with his ex-wife. This is not logical and is hard to get. Moreover, the ending of the film is vague and it does not provide solutions to the family he had in the beginning of the film.

Overall, this film is recommended to those who are interested in the gender issues. Since the psychological process of people who feels not belonging to his/ her original gender is rather complex, this film may act as a doorway to comprehend the intricate topic of gender.