Mohammed to Maya (2012)

Mohammed To Maya is a documentary feature that examines the spiritual and emotional side of transition through the story of a devout Muslim from India (Maya Jafer), who was persecuted by her orthodox Muslim family and religious community for deciding to undergo gender reassignment surgery. Filmmaker Jeff Roy follows Maya to three countries (Thailand, United States, and India), along a difficult journey as she struggles to maintain her faith while fighting for personal liberation. Maya is an incredibly accomplished woman, who immigrated to Southern California from South India, earned two doctorates in holistic medicine, and built a successful professional career. Since she was a young child, Maya devoted her life to Islam, and followed a conservative life of prayer and familial obligation. Throughout her transition, however, she has had to redefine her spiritual and cultural devotion, facing incredible resistance along the way. Mohammed To Maya follows Maya's story with a tight, objective focus on the events leading up to and following her surgery, and the inner conflict that she endured along the way. Was transitioning the right decision? Will the surgery be successful? Will Allah reward or punish her for being who she truly is? What will her family say when she comes out to them? In exploring the landscape of an unsettled mind, this documentary is about modern rites of passage, and the difficulties of letting go and starting new again.