Lady Valor: The Kristen Beck Story

A powerful, moving documentary from CNN Films, Lady Valor addresses one reality that the military would just as soon ignore: namely, that transgendered people have served with distinction in the Armed Forces. Kristin Beck spent more than a decade as a decorated Navy SEAL, some of those years embarking on dangerous missions in Iraq. Known as Chris Beck back then, Kristin is regarded by fellow SEALs (several of them on camera) as a fierce warrior who was constantly thrown into danger. Now back home in the U.S. and living more as a woman than a man (she sees herself as somewhere between the two genders), Kristin travels the country giving motivational speeches while trying to stay connected with her roots in the service. She often feels isolated, however, so it's a relief to see her visit family in her hometown, where her father, two siblings, and several old friends remain loving and supportive (Kristin's mother and two other siblings refused to be involved in the film). On the other hand, Kristin's rejection by her former wife and two young sons is a source of agony. Although Kristin remains in the foreground of filmmakers Mark Herzog and Sandrine Orabona's Lady Valor, the film also introduces a number of transgendered vets going through similar experiences. Highly recommended. (T. Keogh)