When filmmaker Derek Hallquist started his documentary Denial it focused on his father David the CEO of Vermont Electric Corp and his impassioned views on climate change and transitioning the industry to adequately deal with an ever changing world. Hallquist Snr was so committed to renewable energy and converting the Grid to sources of power that were more sustainable, that he preach his gospel to anyone and everyone who would listen.
However, part way through the film, after being such a vocal advocate of wind power, he shocked the local community by publically demanding a moratorium on their future. It was the cause of many heated arguments too between father and son on camera, but their differences were put aside when Hallquist Snr then finally decided to divulge that he was transgender.
He had known about this all his life but nevertheless still married and had Derek and his two siblings, He reasoned that if he had come out when he was younger he would have probably ended up in a mental institution, and he was OK with his life choices until he reached his 50th birthday and started to feel suicidal.
Derek’s initial reaction to both his father’s change of heart of wind power was the same as his response to the shock of discovering his struggle with his gender dyspohria, and was one of anger and confusion which he eagerly shared with his father.
David was still limiting the knowledge of his desire to his immediate family as he was fearful of losing both his job and his position in society. Despite her brave face, this development was too much for Pat his wife to accept, and it is no real surprise that when David finally decides to introduce ‘Christine‘ to the outside world, she decides to leave.
One cannot fail to admire Christine for choosing to use the documentary as a very public means of coming out. This not only made her the first CEO to transition in the workplace, but as we discover after the film was completed she actually campaigned to be the first transgender Governor of Vermont.
By the end Derek was also not only reconciled to his father’s new identity but also to the fact that his evolving views on the future supply of electricity were totally spot on too. This was his feature documentary directing debut and he approached it in a very measured non-sensationalized style which was the perfect way to tell his father’s remarkable story.
Labels: 2018, documentary, transgender
