Thy Will Be Done: A transsexual woman's journey through family and faith

A documentary that explores the point of tension where gender, family relationships, and faith intersect.
by
Year Released
2011
Film Length(s)
55 mins
Remote video URL

Introduction

Thy Will Be Done follows Male-to-Female Transsexual Sara Herwig in her journey to ordination in the Presbyterian Church.

Featured review

.....essential viewing for any family members dealing with similar issues.
Ty Burr
The Boston Globe

Synopsis

The Church's conservative groups do not recognize Sara as female and challenge her fitness and eligibility to be a pastor. In addition, it is crucial to Sara's success that she has support from friends and family. The documentary explores the way in which alternative lifestyles and permanent choices of identity have the power to tear a family completely to pieces, only to bind it back together again, more closely but differently, than it has ever been before. Thy Will Be Done highlights that point of tension where gender, family relationships and faith intersect as contextualized in the Presbyterian Church in particular, and in the broader religious community in general.

Reviews

This film is so powerful in opening up the issues, and dispelling stereotypes...... The tension between the religious aspect and the transsexual aspect is truly a powerful juxtaposition that causes us to think deeply, reconsider, reframe, and continue to explore.
Dr. Sylvia Cowan
Professor, Intercultural Relations, Lesley University
This extraordinary film is a 'must see' for every family and church...and is a wonderful contribution to transgender education particularly from a faith perspective.
Dr. Michael J. Adee
Former Exec. Director, More Light Presbyterians, USA
The film is a poignant, prophetic and tender witness to the kind of transformation that can happen when a 21st century 'David' challenges any contemporary cultural or institutional 'Goliath'. No one is left untouched; no one is left unharmed; no one is ever the same".
Reverend Lyn Brakeman
Episcopal Diocese, MA

Awards and Screenings

San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, Frameline34, 2010
Atlanta International Documentary Film Festival, Atlanta, GA, 2010
International Film Festival, Clonmel, Ireland , 2010
Tallgrass Film Festival, Wichita, KS, 2010
DocUtah, St.George, UT, 2010
Ojai Film Festival, Ojai, CA, 2010
LesGaiCineMad Film Festival, Madrid, Spain, 2010
The Merlinka Queer Film Festival - Belgrade, Serbia, 2011
Valladolid LGBT Film Festival, Spain, 2011
Fundación Triángulo, several LGBT film festival screenings in Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Nicaragua, Paraguay, 2011
Heart of England International Film Festival, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, UK, 2011
Edindocs, Edinburgh, Scotland, 2011
International Film Festival Australasia, Barossa Valley, Australia, 2011
International Film Festival South Africa, 2011

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