Friendships between children and adults can be tricky to pull off well in a movie, but director Lisa Donato chronicles the bond between a 10-year-old boy and his transgender neighbor in her winning drama, Gossamer Folds.

Set in 1986, Tate is troubled when his parents uproot his life to move to a Kansas City suburb. He has no one to play with, and he hates the small neighborhood they’ve moved to. His only solace comes in the worn dictionary that he carries around with him everywhere. He would rather learn on his own and he will stop you if you try to define a word before he can thumb through the pages.

Tate’s father (played by an angry Shane West) is none too pleased when he discovers that they moved next door to a transgender girl and her father. Gossamer dreams of moving to a big city where she can design clothes, and she makes money hemming and fixing clothes for others. Tate and Gossamer start chatting one day in the front yard and an innocent and sweet friendship naturally develops. Gossamer doesn’t want to speak badly of Tate’s father in front of him — maybe because she knows he will eventually show his true colors.

Alexandra Grey makes a splash as Gossamer. With her infectious smile and warm heart, you will wish that she was your next door neighbor. Her performance is bold and strong and her chemistry with Jackson Robert Scott (who you may have seen in the It films or Netflix’s Locke & Key) is natural and sweet. The films also stars Jen Richards, Yeardley Smith, and Ethan Surplee.

Gossamer teaches Tate that the most important lesson is to define yourself and not let anyone else force labels upon you. The film, with its wide porches and open lawns, feels like a nice place to grow up, but Gossamer Folds proves that hate is taught and not something you are born with.

~ Joey Moser

Official Selection – Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival

Official Selection – Queer Screen Film Festival (Sydney)