Different for Girls (1996)

Synopsis

Kim Foyle is a transsexual, thirty-something, reserved. Four years post-transition, two years post-op. As a schoolboy she had had a difficult time, only protected by another schoolboy called Paul.

Kim has a good job, and she's going back to her office in Central London in a taxi and the cab runs into a motorcyclist; it happens to be Paul. Paul hasn't really grown up, and he works as a despatch rider.

Kim recognises him, but doesn't want any drama so when he half recognises her, she doesn't encourage any questions and goes into her office.

Paul is intrigued and waits for her outside, and when she leaves work, he calls her:

"Carl!"

"Not any more."

"All right ... so ... you .. are you going to a show or something?"

"I'm not a bloody drag queen... my name's Kim now."

"Oh ..." says Paul, pretending that everything is now clear, but looking as if nothing's clear.

The conflict of types between them is very powerful, but they both cling on to the moment against the odds, maybe both of them, in different ways, hoping for acceptance from someone from their previous lives. After some hesitation they eventually agree to meet for a drink next Thursday.

Paul "It's a date ... (suddenly looking worried, Paul obviously has sexual orientation difficulties here) I mean ..."

Kim (looking hurt): " I know what you mean."

Paul is in financial difficulties and only just avoids having his bike repossessed by the finance company.

The difference in Paul's and Kim's lifestyles is only now emerging; on Thursday he arrives on his bike with a spare crash helmet.

Kim: "No way, I'm not putting that on my head."

Paul: "It's a legal requirement."

Kim: "Yes, only if you're riding a bike, and I'm not doing that either."

Paul: "Well, it's how I travel ... "

So she does, against her better judgment.

Well, the meeting in the bar is a bit tense after 17 years; Paul reveals that he's gone from job to job; she says she doesn't know her parents any more.

Paul: "I always thought you might be gay."

Kim: "So did I. For a while. I got it wrong ... so are you in a relationship at the moment, Prentice?"

...

Paul (looking at her bust): So long have you .. um ... well, you know?"

Kim: "Four years. Three years pre-operative, one year's post."

Paul: "Pretty drastic; couldn't you, just ...you know, as the mood took you, every now and again?"

Kim (hardening): "Been a transvestite you know? Pad my bra out at weekends. No. No I couldn't."

Paul: "Why not?"

Kim: "Because I'm a woman. And Carl was a girl."

Paul: (distracted by the slow service) "If you say so."

And Paul gets rude to her then, and she flounces out, repelled by his boorishness. They both go home regretting their actions.

Paul takes some flowers to her place of work, to make amends. He was going to leave them at reception for her, but Kim's boss (Miriam Margolyes) is there and makes him come up to the floor in person to hand them over. This puts Kim on the spot to accept the reconciliation when he apologises. The girls gather round and force them to kiss.

"There's a ring in the offing there or I'm a Dutchman"

He takes her to a punk rock gig, which isn't her thing at all, so more friction. But it gets worse when he picks a fight with a yobbo and she is now caught in the cross fire. They have to run for it.

They agree to meet again, and it's at his bedsit. She washes her hands. They're going to eat fish and chips out of the paper. "So what am I supposed to do, wipe my hands on the bedspread afterwards?"

Paul (in camp voice, they're obviously feeling a bit more confident now): "Ooh, get you."

Kim: "Well, it's disgusting the way you live. Just how long is it since this place saw a J-cloth."

Paul: "Leave off Kim, you sound like my Mum."

Kim: "I bloody hope not."

Paul: "So you had the operation, then?"

Kim: "Mm-hm; about a year ago. Lock stock and barrel."

Paul: "Ooh, bloody hell."

Kim: "I don't miss it. I never really wanted it. It was a growth coming out of me. Well, you deal with growths, you get rid of them. It was ugly. It was all wrong. Everything felt wrong and it always had done."

He puts some music on, and they dance, and slowly relax.

Later, he takes her home on his bike. They both enjoyed the chaste evening.

Kim: "Do you, um, do you want to come up for a coffee or something?"

Paul (still in gender stereotype mode): "Oo-er."

Kim (mortified): "Yes, I suppose it is a bit late."

She makes to kiss him goodnight on the cheek but he pulls back and offers her his hand to shake. Devastated, she walks sorrowfully away. He calls her back, and digs the hole deeper:

Paul: "Kim ... I am straight you know."

Kim: "So am I."

Nonetheless the relationship develops platonically, and they spend some time with him teaching her how to ride the bike.

Later, he goes to her place for a candlelit dinner. But, true to form, he blunders around putting his foot in it.

Paul (insisting on looking round the flat, is in the bathroom with her; going to the cabinet): Do you keep all your mess in here?"

Kim: "No, don't ..."

Paul: "This your hormones?"

After coffee, he is still giving her the third degree about the change, and she describes the physical changes to her body. He looks more and more uncomfortable, and suddenly leaves ... "I've got a hard on."

Kim: "It's not illegal."

He storms out to his bike and she follows him, but they're not calming down. He gets his willy out and starts shouting and bawling, and the neighbours come out. Kim begs him to calm down, but he doesn't and someone calls the police. But Paul isn't used to coming quietly and riles the police and gets arrested. In the confusion, Kim gets taken along too.

In the police van, Paul needles the two policemen more and more. One of them feels Kim's abdomen, expecting to find male genitalia, and a fight in the van ensues. Kim is eventually allowed to go, after the police make plenty of snide remarks, but Paul gets charged with indecent exposure. There's a further charge to follow of assaulting the police. Paul knows that this is going to be serious and begs Kim to give evidence for him. She's scared of the hassle and goes to ground.

However, in true Hollywood style she turns up in court at the last minute and he gets away with a fine.

They go back to her place, and he is still blundering about; so he asks her to show him her body, and she does an asexual strip. He still doesn't know what to do, so she coaxes him, and his bodily reactions take over.

They have sex; "It fits! It bloody fits!"

So they both lived happily ever after, together. There are plenty of inconsistencies in this film; in particular they're such dissimilar characters that it will be a struggle to make a go of it. Nonetheless I found this a moving film about two people fumbling imperfectly towards affection. The film is unusual in making the transgender revelation at the beginning, and not midway through the film.

HF 1999

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