🔗 Share this article

Transgender documentarian Sam Feder's latest documentary "Increased Examination" offers a powerful two-part viewpoint – simultaneously an personal profile of a prominent trans advocate and a sharp analysis of journalistic reporting surrounding transgender issues.

Legal Battle at the Highest Court

This documentary documents ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio as he gears up for legal presentations in the landmark Supreme Court case US v Skirmetti. These proceedings happened in December 2024, with the judiciary finally ruling in favor of the state's case, effectively enabling restrictions on healthcare for transgender minors to remain in effect across multiple US territories.

We created Heightened Scrutiny in merely 16 months, shared Feder during a conversation. By contrast, my previous film Disclosure took me half a decade, so this was quite rushed. Our intention was to raise dialogue so people would know more about the case.

Human Narrative Amid Legal Struggle

While Feder presents a comprehensive critique of how major media outlets have disseminated transphobic narratives, the film's most valuable achievement may be its engaging portrayal of Strangio. Typically a cautious attorney in media settings, Strangio shows his vulnerability throughout the documentary.

That was a significant challenge, to share aspects of my life to a documentary crew that I had worked hard to keep confidential, explained Strangio. Feder said he wanted younger people to know that we struggled, to see what was done in service of these battles for our basic existence.

Diverse Voices in the Movement

To enhance Strangio's account, Feder features numerous trans voices, including prominent individuals from media and the arts. This film also features perspectives from non-trans allies who critique how established organizations have added to negative reporting of transgender people.

The experience of transgender young people key to the court battle is illustrated through a extraordinary young girl named Mila. Viewers observe her advocating for her fellow students at a school board meeting, with subsequent scenes showing her speaking for trans rights outside the Supreme Court.

Personal Scenes Beyond the Legal Battle

The documentary also contains emotional moments where Feder transcends the never-ending legal battle, including footage of Strangio traveling in Italy and getting a body art featuring lines from civil rights leader Pauli Murray's poem "Vision."

This body art sequence is one of my most cherished sections in the movie, shared Strangio. Receiving body art is almost like a contemplative experience for me, to be totally engaged in my body and to consider it as a vehicle for things that are important to me.

Body Autonomy and Portrayal

The filmmaker's attention to lovingly documenting Strangio getting to his tattoo collection underscores that this film is primarily about trans physical selves – not only those of youth who experience denial of their ability to live authentically in their own bodies, but also the physical forms of the many participants who participate in the production.

I produce films with a purpose, and part of that is choosing people who are brilliant and eloquent enough to carry the camera, stated Feder. Whenever people ask me what they should wear for an interview, my response is whatever makes you feel attractive. That is important to me – as trans people, we struggle so much with our self-perception.

Impact and Hope

A key aspect that makes Feder's films shine is his evident skill for making his trans participants feel respected, seen and appreciated. This technique creates real rapport between Feder and Strangio, allowing the director to accomplish his goal of portraying Strangio as a multifaceted person and leaving a testament for posterity of how persistently he and others have fought for trans rights.

I hope not people to end up in a state of constant discouragement because of what the law is denying us, stated Strangio. I want to be in a process of using the law to lessen harm, but not to turn it into some type of pathway for our liberation aspirations. State bodies is not going to be the reflection through which we perceive ourselves. Trans people are that mirror, and it's extremely crucial that we keep having that conversation in addition to dialogues about resisting these policies and approaches.

Heightened Scrutiny is presently obtainable for online viewing during Trans Awareness Week and will receive a wider release at a future date.