Cowboys
Film
2020
United States
Joe, a trans boy played by American trans actor Sasha Knight, is accompanied by his accepting father as he flees his transphobic mother.
Trailer.
Available Summary:
"A troubled but well-intentioned father who has recently separated from his wife runs off with his trans son into the Montana wilderness after his ex-wife's refusal to let their son live as his authentic self." -IMDb.
Jack's Summary:
This is a sweet coming-of-age film, featuring a young transmasculine actor (Sasha Knight) in the role of a trans boy. It's wonderful, and a recommended watch for anyone who has felt disappointed by mainstream representations of transmasculinity during youth. I wish I had been able to watch this film growing up.
I particularly loved the film’s depiction of a cis father who, despite being uneducated about trans people, is desperate to support his son, to the extent that he runs away with Joe when the boy insists on it. He also struggles to manage his bipolar disorder, which is an arc depicted with great sensitivity. You can read more about that here, where the author writes the following:
"In addition to being a compelling portrait of U.S. trans identity, Cowboys presents a rare and sympathetic depiction of bipolar I disorder. As someone familiar with bipolar, I’m often disappointed with how film and television harshly depict the ways their bipolar characters interact socially (I was particularly disturbed by the opening of Midsommar in this regard). Because of this, I’m always looking for media texts that offer a complex representation of the illness that isn’t used as a vehicle for shock or suspense. Because Cowboys advertises itself as a film about trans identity, I was not at all expecting it to cover bipolar with such depth and sensitivity. Even as the film illustrates some of the possible painful struggles of bipolar and the social repercussions they can cause, it never demonises the person as inherently bad or undeserving of love. This film has the best representation of bipolar I’ve ever seen, and I was very moved by the empathetic care Kerrigan put into her script and the excellent, soulful performance she helped craft with the performer who plays this role."
Joe, the trans boy, is called a lesbophobic slur by a cis boy who harasses him for trying on boy's clothes in a store. Beyond that, there are no scenes of transphobic violence or assault. Joe's mother isn't accepting of her son, and her mindset is very realistic to how many real-life mothers treat their trans sons.
One of my favourite scenes in this movie is when Joe simply watches his father, and other adult men, bowling together. He's spellbound and delighted by their masculinity. I adored seeing average-looking, average-bodied men being depicted as the object of a trans boy's fascination and gender euphoria, because I have felt that way too, and it's healthy to see normal bodies adored in an age of perfectly-sculpted celebrities and high standards. It felt like a celebration of typical men, finding the beauty in masculinity. I really cherished that scene.
Entry last updated:
8 Feb 2026