- Macy See is done with perfectionism and ‘trying to be cool’ - 7 May, 2026
- Everyone should be talking about Alexis Gregory’s SMOKE - 21 April, 2026
- Todd Verow on Behind the Open Door and the return of the ‘New Queer Cinema’ movement - 14 April, 2026
“Uneasy is the head that wears the crown,” William Shakespeare wrote in Henry IV Part II, though it’s often misremembered as “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.”
However, both feel equally as relevant when talking about the trans model, activist, and pioneer, Munroe Bergdorf. And it is probably the impression one will walk away with after watching her new documentary Love & Rage: Munroe Bergdorf.
The film follows Munroe in her day-to-day life around the publication of her book, Transitional, as well as her appointment as UN Women UK Champion in 2023.
It’s a rare look behind the poised persona Munroe portrays publicly. Though even after stripping the glamour away Munroe maintains the epitome of the word as she lets the audience into her private life, sharing her most vulnerable self at times.
A moving and emotional film, it’s expertly helmed behind the camera by director Olivia Cappuccini, that balances Munroe’s backstory with more recent events to tell a striking narrative.
The device to use actors to portray earlier versions of Munroe could, in the hands of other creatives, come across as cheesy and grind things to a halt, but here they’re combined seamlessly adding more weight to the story and packing a more emotional punch.
Love & Rage: Munroe BergdorfBut what stands out the most is the vulnerability Munroe is willing to show. We’re let in to some of her most traumatic and trying times including being dropped by L’Oréal over her comments on race, the loss of loved ones, as well as past abuse, and the general vitriol the model and activist has endured.
What also shines through is the grace and dignity with which Munroe has dealt with these trials and the beacon she has become for not only trans people, but the queer community at large.
Love & Rage also shows us how heavily being such a pillar of the community can weigh on a single person, but we see Munroe continue to strive to do more recognising, sadly, the benefits are yet to be seen and probably won’t be for some time yet. However, the film ends on a defiant and hopeful note.
The film is a rare look into the life of a boundary-breaking figure of the LGBTQ+ community and a must watch for literally anyone.
Love & Rage: Munroe Bergdorf will be available on digital platforms from 14 July.
