Watch Venus of Mars

Venus of Mars is a poignant and captivating documentary that chronicles the life of transwoman rockstar Venus De Mars. Directed by Emily Goldberg, this movie sheds light on the immense challenges that Venus has faced and her tireless resilience in the face of a world that has been unkind to her. The movie begins with a snapshot of Venus's life out of the public eye- as a construction worker in the American Midwest. This is a jarring contrast to her flamboyant stage persona as the lead singer and guitarist of the punk-rock band "All the Pretty Horses". We learn that Venus is a transgender woman who transitioned at a young age- which brought her a level of ostracization and hate from her community.

Even in the safe spaces of the LGBTQ community, Venus faced discrimination as she sought to express herself through her music. Her band, which boasts an all-transgender lineup, has had trouble finding gigs and has been subject to a lot of hate mail and death threats. What comes out strongly through this movie is how Venus and her bandmates have not allowed transphobia to get them down and have become a well-known and well-recognized fixture on the Minneapolis punk-rock music scene.

Venus herself is a fascinating character study- introspective and deeply philosophical, we see many sides to her as the movie progresses. She speaks candidly about how her music has been a way for her to channel her anger and pain, and how being creative has been a coping mechanism through life's many tribulations. We see her interacting with her wife Lynette Reini-Grandell (who is also a poet), and their relationship is a beautiful love story that unfolds organically through the course of the film.

The challenges that Venus faces come to a head when she decides to undergo a 'bottom surgery'- an operation which would complete her transition from male to female. Even with health insurance, the procedure is expensive, and the road to recovery is arduous. We see her dealing with physical and emotional pain as she recuperates, while also trying to keep her band together and performing.

Throughout it all, Venus's commitment to authenticity and creativity is unwavering. The title of the movie, 'Venus of Mars', reflects her dual nature- as a woman who was born male, she lives in a space between two worlds. As she puts it in the movie, "I'm a beautiful mutant". She sees her journey as a work of art- one that is constantly evolving and changing, like a piece of music.

One of the highlights of the movie is the concert footage- the energy of the band, combined with Venus's powerful vocals, makes for a truly memorable experience. There are also poignant moments- such as when Venus performs for a group of trans kids, who are visibly moved and inspired by her music.

The production value of the movie is excellent- we see a lot of home video footage from when Venus was a kid, which provides context and backstory to her life. The movie also features interviews with her bandmates and her wife, who give us a better understanding of Venus's personality and character.

Overall, Venus of Mars is a moving and thought-provoking documentary that highlights the struggles of the transgender community. It is a film that will make you laugh, cry, and feel a deep sense of empathy for Venus and her bandmates. The movie ends with Venus and her wife performing a duet, and it is a fitting conclusion to a movie that celebrates love, creativity, and resilience.

Venus of Mars is a 2004 music movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.2.