Venus

Sid (Debargo Sanyal), a first-generation American born to Indian parents, is a transitioning woman who has already leaped some of the tougher hurdles in revealing his gender identity to mom and dad, colleagues, and friends. For her, nothing can change the path forward. But then 14-year-old Ralph (Jamie Mayers) shows up one day and announces that Sid is his father—the result of a liaison between Sid and one-time best friend Kirsten (Amber Goldfarb). Ralph shrugs off Sid’s denials, becoming over time a beloved, buoyant fixture in Sid’s life. Deeply curious about Sid’s transition, Ralph begins experimenting to see what it feels like to wear women’s clothes. And sooner or later, Kirsten will get into this picture, setting up high emotional stakes for everyone. Writer-director Eisha Marjara pours on the humor with Sid’s intractable folks (who take a shine to their unexpected grandson) and Ralph’s puppyish energy. But there is plenty of drama here, too, as lives are thrown into turmoil. Recommended. (T. Keogh)