Doris Wishman has taken exploitation to a whole new level. Let's talk about how ashamed I feel after having watched the upcoming Synapse Films DVD release of Wishman's pseudo documentary, Let Me Die A Woman. I'm very, very ashamed. BUT, at the same time, I shouldn't be surprised. Wishman has made a career out of exploiting exploitation, which is really a neat trick when you think about it. Let Me Die A Woman REALLY takes the cake though.

Not much is known about Let Me Die A Woman and its apparent many incarnations. No one is quite sure when the whole process of making this film actually began or how many versions of this film at any given time may have existed. Years are muddled, but Wishman Historian Michael Bowen does a great job in trying to piece it all together in the liner notes (which are a great read, btw) and audio commentary (and a really great listen). As a matter of fact, he may even be trying too hard, to the point where some viewers may not even care anymore. However, most will likely find his enthusiasm and curiosity as infectious as I did. His presence makes this disc all the more enjoyable.

So, what exactly is Let Me Die A Woman? If Wishman were still alive, I'd bet that she would use the word documentary outright and unapologetically. Which would (unfortunately) be a real slap in the face to the transgender community as a whole. Let Me Die A Woman is an exploitation flick all the way and of a crueler than usual variety than most. It almost comes across as if Wishman believes she is doing the transgender community a favor, which she obviously isn't. She portrays them as prostitutes and relies on the 'shock' value of full frontal nudity to show that they have 'breasts and a penis' as well as using inserts of actual sex change surgery footage! She throws in some truly uncomfortable softcore sex scenes (once again for obvious shock value) and warps it all inside the most bizarre group therapy session you've ever laid eyes on! To top it all off, a young post-op transsexual named Leslie, lays it all on the line with brief interview segments that are really the most heart warming and personal element of the film. Although it won't seem so heartwarming once you discover that Leslie didn't know about the 'other content' that was to pad the films running time (surprise, surprise). It's almost as if Wishman had piecemealed this film together over the years (to an even higher degree than her other films), until she eventually wound up with this final product.

Probably the most shocking element of the film, is the use of Dr. Leo Wollman and his excessive use of cue cards (it's painfully obvious) Wollman hosts the odd group therapy session I mentioned earlier and brings more than his fair share of pre and post-ops into his office for 'inspection.' His 'patients' strip down and Wollman repeatedly points out the fact that these men/women have both 'breasts and a penis' while poking and prodding them with a metal pointer that I know just had to be freezing cold! Gee, thanks Wollman. He even goes so far as to examine the 'man made' vagina of one post-op in close up and gruesome detail, at one point having her cram a metal cylinder up inside herself to 'demonstrate' how she has to 'shape her hole. It's handled in a very uncomfortable, exploitative way - scary stuff folks. Scary stuff.

No matter how hard she tries, Wishman injects no level of educational or socially redeeming value in here at all. Just lots of creepy exploitation, masquerading as heart felt educational material. Wollman stands before a couple before they engage in sex, and at one point stands before a transexual who is about to gruesomely rid himself of his penis! But like Wollman says, it's OK, because that's what he wanted anyway! And of course, there are the usual Wishman elements one would expect to find in one of her films. Random shots of the floor, shoes and furniture. Hilarious overdubbing and odd edits that don't match the dialogue. As usual, she puts to 'good' use, any and all of the footage she gets her grubby little hands on. Look for 'cameos' from porn stars Harry Reems and Vanessa Del Rio along with a softcore scene in which Gaylord St. James (who played Dr. Collingwood in Last House on the Left) rolls around naked with a pre-op prostitute!

There's really only one word that can describe this DVD release of Let Me Die A Woman. Breathtaking. How's that for irony? How does Synapse do it? This transfer is simply the tops. Now, there is some slight print damage here and there but overall, we've got a really crisp and colorful transfer, my eyeballs were in a state of disbelief. Why god! Why! You've never seen a man made vagina so clearly, I can guarantee it! The mono audio is equally as impressive with nice clear dialogue, music and no distortion. Amazingly pleasing all around. Weird, huh?

Extras include a feature-length audio commentary with Wishman historian Michael Bowen and 'star' of the film, Leslie. Other extras include a theatrical trailer and 3 promotional spots (basically brief clips from the film used for promotion), a radio spot and an alternate title sequence under the name ADAM OR EVE (with a 1971 date) also with Michael Bowen commentary. The feature-length audio commentary is the real star here and I have to say that I haven't been this enthusiastic about an audio commentary in quite some time. Now, I'm not going to sit here and regurgitate all of the information that's given, which would be crazy. I am however, going to let you know that it's lighter than I expected and both Bowen and 'Leslie' offer tremendous insight. It's really a perfect compliment to the film itself. Then there are the extensive liner notes written by Bowen that I mentioned earlier as well which add to the real education here, about the films' history.

It may not be one of the most pleasant DVD experiences I've ever had to endure, but Synapse Film's overall presentation of Let Me Die A Woman from look to extras is top notch all the way. Chalk it up to a very 'interesting' viewing experience. For Wishman enthusiasts, it's a no brainer - this one is definitely for you!