Private Project

Presenting Lisa: A Journey to Authenticity

Meet Larry. At birth, his sex could not be physiologically-determined, so doctors told his parents to choose their child’s sex. As his parents struggled with the decision, Larry briefly lived in the “space between” - as both a boy and a girl. Ultimately, against their 5-year-old’s will, his parents elected sex assignment surgery, and sealed his fate as a boy.

Fast forward 60 years later and watch as Larry risks everything familiar to reclaim his stolen identity. Against the backdrop of a hostile and unwelcoming world, he must find space in the world for himself as Lisa; living a lie is no longer an option.

  • Sean Bloch
    Director
    The Room - A Short Film by Sean Bloch
  • Glendale Matias
    Graphic Artist
  • Justin Glocker
    Sound
  • Peter Himmelman
    Music
    Grammy Nominated Performing Artist
  • Camile Youssef
    Music
    Performing Artist
  • Carey Fried
    Copy Editor
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    LGBTQ, Seniors, Religious, documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 5 minutes 47 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 1, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    250,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 2015 Columbia Gorge International Film Festiveal
    Washougal, Washington
    August 9, 2015
    Washington Premiere
    2015 LGBTQ Advocacy Award
  • Durango Film: An Independent Film Festival
    Durango, CO
    March 12, 2016
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Sean Bloch

Credits: Short Film – The Room (2012). World Fest Houston Silver Medal Winner, Human Sexuality.
About the Director:
Sean Bloch, 44, lives and works in West Los Angeles as a technology specialist. In 2012, he completed an award winning short documentary providing an intimate look at a men's coming out group. Later that year he began filming his first feature documentary, Presenting Lisa. Sean is a UCLA graduate and is a member of Film Independent.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

One of the proudest moments of the making of this documentary happened at the Columbia Gorge International Film Festival. During a Q & A session, the star of the film, Lisa Miller, was asked about what the film meant to her. Lisa, who as recently as five years ago lived as Larry, proudly shared her thoughts.
Born in the '40s in the emerging suburbs of Los Angeles, Lisa parents were forced to choose their child's gender. Their Intersex baby was born with both male and female genitals. It was just before kindergarten that they forced genital surgery sealing her fate as a boy.
Now sixty years later she no longer is shamed into hiding this truth. As the film finished and the emotional applause quieted, Lisa walked forward with none of deflective humor I had so often seen. Emotionally drained but beaming, she delivered to all of us a message loud and clear.
"I am intersexed. I am not invisible."
One moment made this project all worth it.