There is a show coming on called "American Eunuch" on the Sundance Channel on Monday, May 10th at 10:00PM. Just though you'd all like to know. From what I can see it appears that Spector is going to be interviewed and there are interviews with several eunuchs.

If you have the Sundance channel, it may well be worth seeing.

--LT

The film is scheduled to be shown three times on the Sundance Channel (which I, unfortunately, can’t get). The first showing will be

Monday, May 10 at 10:00 pm

with repeats on

Saturday, May 15 at 1:20 am

Tuesday, May 18 at 12 midnight

The official blurb for the film is as follows:

AMERICAN EUNUCHS

Gian Claudio Guiducci

Franco Sacchi

Castration is one of America’s best-kept secrets. Officially, the operation is rarely – and always after intensive psychological counselling – performed. Health insurers refuse to reimburse the expenses of this surgical treatment. But the Internet offers an enormous number of so-called ‘cutters’ who, for a fee, are willing to rid desperate clients of their testes. In AMERICAN EUNUCH, Gian Claudio Guiducci and Franco Sacchi investigate the motives of these voluntarily emasculated men, the shady world behind the internet and the inevitable ethical issues. Dog trimmer George, happily married for 15 years, explains that his entire life he longed to be sexless. Dr. Felix Spector is an 84-year-old doctor who used to perform the semi-illegal operation for years in his back-street office in eunuch paradise, Philadelphia. As an eloquent guru of the eunuch community Gelding appears in a revealing G-string, laconically talking about castration, hormones and lust, casually showing us instruments for do-it-yourselfers. Cutter Jack, wearing a balaclava, explains why he is prepared to run serious risks for next to nothing. And then there is the deeply Christian Michael, who is desperate to bring his sexlessness into conformity with his beliefs. The interviews alternate with straightforward shots of the surgery on the operating table, in this cutting-edge film.

Italië, Verenigde Staten, 2003

colour / black and white, video, 1 uur 23 min.

Editing: Gian Claudio Guiducci, Franco Sacchi

Music: Maurizio Ravalico, Marco Vargiu, Giovanni Vianelli

Photography: Gian Claudio Guiducci, Franco Sacchi

Production: Gian Claudio Guiducci, Franco Sacchi

Director: Gian Claudio Guiducci, Franco Sacchi

Sound: Gian Claudio Guiducci, Franco Sacchi

For those who are interested in pursuing more information about this film, there is a web site: www.AmericanEunuchs.com

Links from the homepage include the movie’s trailer as well as other information.

I sent a notice of the TV showing to a number of friends and colleagues, one of whom reacted VERY negatively to the film. He works with prostate cancer patients whose lives may be saved or lengthened by castration, whether chemical or surgical.

My colleague was appalled by the sensationalism that this film displays. He feels that it will set back the attempt to rationally approach the issue of castration and of eunuchs in society, not just for those cancer patients who would rather die than be castrated, but also for the entire community of voluntary eunuchs.

He said that his first reaction on discovering that this film (of which he has been aware for some time) was to be shown on national television was to begin writing a long letter of protest to the filmmakers, Gian Claudio Guiducci (gcguiducci@americaneunuchs.com) & Franco Sacchi (franco@americaneunuchs.com). On second thought, he realized that the way that they have sensationalized voluntary castration indicates that they would probably relish the idea of getting into a heated exchange and would probably try later to use it for further publicity.

He went on to write that from what he has seen, “it is fundamentally [an] evil and immoral film exercise. I guess I am too damned emotional right now to deal with this.”

His final comment to me was the question, “Will eunuch.org take a position on this film?”

You have been warned.

I think Sundance is available on DSL, which is installed in some hotels and motels.

Sounds like a somewhat lurid film--wonder if the folks interviewed for it, knew what the final product would be like.

During the first third of this program, the angry urologist, the no-neck psychiatrist, and the guy with the Einstein hair and Freud accent all looked like they stepped right out of "Rocky Horror."

And did it seem disingenous to others that the guy in the last segment decides he really is a transexual after all?

I thought Gelding came across well, even considering the number of close-ups of his bung-hole.

My 2 cents.

Terry

i really thought the trailer was more interesting than the movie. it started slowly and progressed even slower. I thought that they did a lovely job of charactor assassinating Dr. Spector, and managed to portray him as an incompetent. What are our options, if you take away the ones that really have an understanding of what they are doing?

Anybody remember how many back room abortions were done before Row V. Wade? are there more done now that abortion is legal? probably not! Back room practicioners were not bound by ethics.

I really think you should have choices outside the norm but society in its narrow minded puritanical outdated morality has decided not.

I think the thing i appreciated the most is the reason i am here so much. Even in the transgendered community, there is little to no room for (other) as a choice for ones sex.

I would "settle" for becoming a woman to be more comfortable than i am as a man, but i would never be comfortable in the role of a woman and i do not think i could have sex with a man, even after i was no longer one. But why should i have to be something i am not. Why can't i be neither?

My response comes soon.

Gee, I have nearly every channel known to man EXCEPT the Sundance Channel. <ugh>

I guess that's what happens when you live in the land where barbecue and NASCAR are considered high culture. Save me, I live in red neck hell!

Anyone willing to record the program and mail it to me? You'd be reimbursed for your costs, of course.

--LT

Judging from the comments about the G-string perhaps they should change their name to the FANDANCE channel, without the fans...

A-1

Yes, the film itself sucked and is certainly not fit to be used as a source of real information on the subject of castration. However.

Even though Gelding is almost univerally d**** here, I will admit to thinking he's pretty damn hot as long as he keeps his mouth shut.