OUT MAGAZINE
How and why this trans man carried and gave birth to his own child
“Finally, other people can see who I am.”
These are the words Freddy McConnell uses in Seahorse, recounting the early moments of his transition. Though a simple declaration, the way he expresses it, and how early in the film he says it, is the only signal I needed that this 89-minute journey would be worth it.
Tre’vell Anderson
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GUARDIAN WEEKEND
The dad who gave birth: ‘Being pregnant doesn't change me being a trans man’
“A tender – and rather wonderful – documentary about love, family, fallouts, raging hormones and the complexities of identity”
Simon Hattenstone
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SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Man giving birth gives voice to hundreds of Australian 'seahorse dads'
When Freddy McConnell began transitioning he was told he would never have children as a result of the testosterone supplements he would be taking.
But as the remarkable documentary Seahorse records, the doctors were quite wrong.
His is a remarkable story. But, as Finlay points out, “Freddy is not unique in having a baby – he’s unique in his openness in telling his story”.
Karl Quinn
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HAMMER TO NAIL
Seahorse, teaches us profound truths about sex, gender identity, empathy and love
“…An evocative mix, powerful in its reconstruction of a life fully lived. We are always engaged and always rooting for the best possible conclusion. How lovely to experience the joy, however painfully obtained, of others.”
Christopher Llewellyn Reed
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HYPERALLERGIC
The Story of a Pregnant Man, Told With Sensitivity and Respect
“In a world that is often hostile to trans people, particularly toward the idea of an openly pregnant man, Freddy contends with his highs and lows with the support of his irrepressible mother Esme. Gently filmed with an eye for the quotidian details of an otherwise unusual situation, Seahorse is compassionate and bracing in equal turns.”
Christina Newland
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THE PORTLAND OBSERVER
Seahorse so rocked my world that it is a contender for my list of the best films of 2019.
“One of the most moving things I have ever witnessed. At the birth, as well as many other moments in the film, I felt that I was witnessing what it means to be embodied in a whole new way. I am forever changed.”
Darleen Ortega
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INDIEWIRE
“A sensitive and finely-tuned portrayal that challenges traditional notions of fatherhood and masculinity.
Prolific British documentarian Jeanie Finlay explores the story of transgender man Freddy McCall, otherwise known as the man who gave birth. “Seahorse” shows McCall navigating clinical microaggressions and tensions through his interior journey. The movie received rave reviews out of its Tribeca Film Festival premiere”
Jude Dry
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ANOTHER MAN MAGAZINE
“Lightyears away from the sensationalist headlines often imposed on trans experiences.
The beginnings of an honest conversation about the trans experience of starting a family; a conversation that seeks to tackle ignorance and open up the way for many more trans men to choose to carry their own children.”
Hannah Clugstone
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