LOS ANGELES — Netflix is now streaming Buck Angel’s recent collaborative documentary “Mr. Angel,” which tracks the life and times of the transgender porn star, advocate and educator.
Angel said of the doc upon its Decemeber release, “I would hope the overall message is to love yourself no matter what people think of you. Self-love and care are so important and can change your life. I love who I am, and try to convey that through living my life without that worry.”
Filmmaker Dan Hunt, who helmed the feature-length documentary, said that the film attempts “to understand the complexities of someone who overcame incredible obstacles,” including addiction, homelessness, suicide and opposition to his gender expression to eventually find love with his partner Elayne Angel.
“Mr. Angel” opens with Angel heading to Berlin to participate in an adult entertainment expo. Exuding a frank, charismatic air from the get-go, Angel tells his cabby of America’s pervasive sexual reticence.
“Americans are afraid of naked people,” Angel tells the cab driver. When asked why, he expresses his own puzzlement: “I don’t know. It’s weird.”
Tracking present-day Angel, Hunt includes interviews with family members, friends and noted personalites like Tyra Banks, Dan Savage, Lux Alptraum, Tristan Taormino, Michael Lucas and Sasha Grey to present his subject in a comprehensive light.
Historically LGBTQ friendly, Netflix picked up the doc earlier this month. It joins a roster of high-profile gay and lesbian films that also recently hit the popular streaming platform, including “Capote,” “Blue is the Warmest Color,” and “C.O.G.”
“Mr. Angel” premiered at the 2013 South by Southwest Film Festival, and has since screened at Philadelphia QFest, Atlanta LGBT Film Festival, Inside Out Toronto, Rio International Film Festival, London Gay and the Lesbian Film Festival.
Aside from picking up a 2014 Feminist Porn Award nom for his “Sexing The Transman XXX Vol. 3,” Angel says he will be heading to Buenos Aires, Argentina to participate in its First International LGBTIQ Film Festival.
