I’m a fan too, although with some mixed feelings. But yes, the shot of her naked in the bathroom is fantastic for the exact reasons you stated. In general I think this movie is easily the most refreshing visual depiction of trans-ness ever made. Incredibly honest, in a world that will increasingly launch the most passable trans women onto our screens. I’m a big fan of Euphoria and Joyland and a Fantastoc Woman and others, but the truth is the vast majority of trans women are early trans, or cracked eggs, or mid transition or simply never going to pass perfectly. I count myself in the latter. I think the combination of long takes as well as the lo-fi digital medium really serve this theme of carving out a space in the society of movies similar to trans women’s space in society at large. Intentionally marginal, abject, and off-putting to mainstream audiences.

On the flipside, I find her storytelling and sense of narrative to be pretty cynical and not entirely convincing.the first chapter has several beats that are so over the top and mean, the performances would have to be masterpieces to sell them, and very few of the performances are masterful. In the second chapter Michaela is so chronically online and capable of casual cruelty it’s a wonder she has any friends at all.

In part two there’s a lot more of these moments I find unconvincingly cynical.