DONNA
★★★★
OUT 15 JULY / CERT TBC / 75 MINS
DIRECTOR Jay Bedwani
PARTICIPANTS Donna Personna, Gloria Villareal
Jay Bedwani’s documentary about Donna Personna, a woman who does a lipsyncing act in San Francisco, sets a gold standard for trans* representation. The film nimbly paints a contemporary portrait of Donna, now in her seventies, as she writes a play about the 1966 Compton’s Cafeteria riot. It also covers the history of her family life, culminating in a reunion with her estranged sister, Gloria. Bedwani moves between these narrative strands with precision, always deeply respectful of his subject. Raised a Baptist in San Jose, Donna repressed her female identity until her sixties, when the queer community offered her a new lease of life. As such, Donna is truly a celebration of embracing your authentic self.