MR. ANGEL

Synopsis

It's early morning in Mexico. Buck starts the day by feeding his seven dogs. Trailed by the pack, Buck takes us to his office, and, picking up photographs, he reveals his past. Buck was born female yet knew he was male on the inside. Even his parents raised him as a boy until puberty. That's when the conflict began escalating to drug addiction and suicide attempts. In this volatile period, he became an internationally renowned model, which only increased his gender conflict. He hit bottom when he was homeless and a prostitute. Buck fully transitioned to 'male' when he underwent a double mastectomy. He refuses phalloplasty because the surgery does not yield a functioning penis. 'I'm trying to change the belief that you need a penis to be a man. I'm a man, I just have a vagina. ' For 6 years, we've had exclusive access following his lofty aspirations of stardom in porn. Not completely aware of their child's notoriety are Buck's parents. It has taken them decades to come to terms with losing their daughter and gaining a 'Buck.' Their participation is a moving chronicle that reveals Buck's early history and throws light on the murky debate of Nature vs. Nurture. Mr. Angel seems sensational at first glance, yet this moving story packs a universal lesson of acceptance. It challenges basic notions about gender and sexuality, while exploring body image, addiction, and acceptance. It is a powerful chronicle of an amazing individual.