Just Charlie is a 2017 British movie that follows the story of a young footballer named Charlie Lyndsay. The main theme centers on gender identity and acceptance. Charlie, who has been raised as a boy and excels at football, had always felt like a girl on the inside. She struggles with the idea of transitioning, knowing that she would face rejection and judgment from the world.
The movie begins with Charlie's parents actively encouraging her football career, and her father pushing her to be a part of his dream team. However, they were not aware of the real struggle that Charlie was having with her gender identity. It becomes a big secret that Charlie can no longer keep to herself, as it begins to take a toll on her mental health. As she becomes more comfortable in her self-expression, she opens up to her family, which causes a significant rift with her father.
Throughout the movie, Charlie navigates bullying and intolerance at school and struggles to gain acceptance from her father, the coach and her peers in the football team. It depicts the emotional trauma that transgender youth go through and the importance of self-acceptance and support from family and community. The story is poignant, and endearing, as it shows that with love, acceptance, and support, everyone can live up to their full potential.
Just Charlie was directed by Rebekah Fortune and starred Harry Gilby as Charlie, Scot Williams as Charlie's father and Patricia Potter as Charlie's mother. The film was well-received by audiences and critics alike for its honest portrayal of a transgender child's life.
