SummaryTransgender high school athletes from across the country compete at the top of their fields, while also challenging the boundaries and perceptions of fairness and discrimination.
Directed By:Michael Barnett
Written By:Michael Barnett, Amanda C. Griffin, Michael Mahaffie
Changing the Game
Metascore
Generally Favorable
77
User score
Generally Unfavorable
2.2
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
77
100% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Jun 1, 2021
88
Director Michael Barnett’s “Changing the Game” is an expertly crafted, empathetic, journalistically sound documentary following three strong, bright, likable and admirably accessible and forthcoming transgender teen athletes.
Jun 1, 2021
80
Changing the Game is that rare documentary about a social issue that is not preaching to the choir. If someone is uncertain or on the fence about this issue, this movie should allow them to make a logical conclusion about it, and that is not only a positive thing but also a stimulating one.
User score
Generally Unfavorable
2.2
20% Positive
1 Rating
1 Rating
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
80% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
Jun 2, 2021
1
(Just so everyone is aware this comment is specifically regarding women/trans women) Okay so unfortunately I'm sure most people here will look upon me as transphobic after they read this, which is absolutely not the case whatsoever. I simply want to state that I feel that after watching this documentary, instead of feeling inspired, that I now feel sad. Sad that there's no one out there considering how athletes born female feel about trans women being allowed to compete against them despite the obvious differences in physical ability. For me, hearing about other women who have worked so incredibly hard to get to where they were in their sports, only to be overtaken by a trans athlete who was born with a physical structure that would always be stronger and more capable of certain things physically than these other women's could ever be made me feel so sad. Yet they are forgotten for the most part, and sidelined, and left to basically realize that there's now nothing they can do to be number one in their sport. I just am hoping that anyone who reads my comment could hopefully take a moment to consider those women and whether or not this is fair to them....
Feb 18, 2020
80
Changing the Game is beautifully crafted, with strong visual evocations of the different locales that these young athletes inhabit. The editing is also sharp, so that we rarely feel we are spending too much time with one set of characters.
Jun 2, 2021
75
Changing the Game goes beyond those dehumanizing headlines to show the real people affected by harmful anti-trans policies or lack of any meaningful legal protection.
Jun 2, 2021
70
Changing the Game could have gone further, analyzing how fairness in sports is a myth to begin with. But the movie isn’t interested in rewriting the rules; it would rather introduce us to the brave young people who are.
Feb 18, 2020
70
Unadventurous in its design — Barnett goes for a conventional mélange of clips and talking heads to structure the story — Changing the Game admittedly benefits from a traditional approach that slowly familiarizes the audience both with the subjects and the layers of an ongoing discriminatory debate around fairness.
Jun 1, 2021
0
Stop the propaganda. This isn't a documentary, it's a fluff peace. I agree with keeping trans women out of women's sports. It's an unfair advantage. Nothing wrong with trans competition.
Production Company:
- SuperFilms!
- Foton Pictures
- Glanzrock Productions
Release Date:Jun 1, 2021
Duration:1 h 28 m
Rating:TV-14
Awards
Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival
• 4 Wins & 4 Nominations
Fairy Tales Calgary Queer Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
L.A. Outfest
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
