movie review : Normal

this movie, Normal, is about a seemly 'normal' factory worker Roy Applewood ( Tom Wilkinson), a man in his near fifties, who faces the biggest challenge in his life when he thinks that he is 'a woman trapped in a man's body'. his wife of 25 years, Irma ( Jessica Lange) is being put in difficulties to accept her husband's sex change decision. while Roy's adolescent daughter,tomboy Patty Ann finds curiousity in her father's decision, Wayne, their rock roadie son struggles to understand.

i find the movie a heart warming one. it taught me a lesson on learning more to respect others' decison and ultimately, for being courageous. in our daily lives, we should learn to be more courteous. i even thought that it is victorious just to make a sensible decision out of the ordinary.we do not want to be viewed as freaks, but convincing others to trust us is another story. if we lose out confidence in ourselves, how do you expect others to believe in you? winning and conquering our mental minds is a huge everyday task; forcing yourselves to wake up early in the morning for classes, enduring physically in boring lectures, accepting majority or dominant decisions whether you like it or not, getting aware of the current fashion faux.....'Understanding' is needed when we try to step into other's shoes and 'courage' is needed when others' do not approve of you.

even if the society is getting more and more rebelious, being a crossdresser is still a doubt for acceptance.i love how the movie brings out its meaningful and unambigous bits, like how Roy started out by wearing female perfume, then gold female earings and a total makeover in womens' clothes...and oh, breasts. he got beaten up by his colleague, a scrawl over his car and got 'invited' out of his church. it is love that changes the perception of his family towards him and eventually accepting him wholely as a 'woman'.

three cheers to the casts of Normal for bringing out and portraying such a wonderful journey of life!