‘What Will I Become?’ Review: Transmasculine Lives Take Center Stage in a Poignant Portrait of Loss
A documentary screened at major film festivals investigates the high rate of suicide attempts among transmasculine young people by presenting detailed personal stories and archival material. The film uses diary readings, photographs, and interviews to construct portraits of two central figures: one who gained visibility as a school Prom King before facing sustained harassment both online and offline, and another whose narrative emerges primarily through his bereaved parents' accounts of his individuality and gifts.
The filmmakers argue that institutional and systemic barriers create harm that supportive families alone cannot counteract. By tracing how various communities—schools, peers, relatives, and strangers—either affirmed or rejected these young people, the work attempts to identify root causes of the crisis. Critics acknowledge the filmmakers' thoughtful approach to treating their subjects as full human beings rather than cautionary tales, though some note the work's structure creates tension between the directors' personal involvement and their chosen focus.
- Documentary examines the transmasculine youth suicide crisis through intimate personal narratives rather than statistics alone
- Focuses on Blake Brockington (Prom King) and Kyler Prescott, exploring institutional barriers despite family support
- Co-director filmmakers ground the work in their own experiences whilst centering subjects' voices and humanity