Adam's Apple (Jenkins, 2026): Rarely Do We Ever See Such and Honest and Tender Documentary

Adam Sieswerda had no need to share his story with the world. Yet he did it anyways. Ever since he was young, around two or three, he knew he wanted to dress in male clothes. Then a few years later, he did not feel right in a women’s body. Though unique, the experience of discovering your gender is common all over. If this is the case, then why is it always so hard for transgender youth, even adults, to come out. All they are doing is being true to themselves. As Adam’s life is shared with the world, Adam’s Apple is one of the most honest documentaries in recent years.

Adam’s Apple owes its genuine feel to Adam’s mom, Amy Jenkins. With a background in photography, she has always wanted to capture moments. Then when raising a family on her own, this want only strengthened. From birth to present in creating this documentary, Adam’s whole life has been remembered in photos and home videos. When they decided to curate the footage into a film, it resulted in a piece so honest and pure. Rarely can you see such an intimate and tender documentary. When you see the collaborative and honest story shared by Adam and Amy here, you understand that it was more than just a scripted piece of cinema they wanted to make.

Two perspectives share Adam’s story with the world. Adam, a transgender teen, and his mother Amy, a photographer and videographer. Through the film we are shown how Adam’s life was more than just his own. Beginning very young Adam knew he was not born to be a woman, he was born to be a man. Not only does he age from a child into a young adult, he becomes more free and expressive in himself and who he is. From his parents’ perspective, they clearly find it tough. While Amy is more open to the idea, his dad remains quite closed off and focused on the fact he has lost his daughter. But how Adam turns this around, is painful and true. Using his words and his mom’s camera, we see just how intelligent one young man is, and how compassionate he becomes throughout his long journey.

They show the audience about how tender and authentic transgender lives are while reminding us of the hostilities they face in the world today, and that is easy to forget what transgender youth go through at home. As with many transitions, parents find it difficult to understand. Adam’s Apple does not shy away from this. Amy and Adam make sure to keep both the good and bad in their documentary. Reminding audiences of the struggles, allows the film to not only be representational, but feel all the more authentic in bringing us truthfully closer to Adam’s life.

“I have an entire story to tell you” - Adam Sieswerda

Transgender representation is rarely seen in this way on the screen. Sitting down to watch Adam’s Apple you immediately feel a closeness to Adam. It does not feel like he is made to be a character on the screen. No way could this documentary have been made were it not for Amy’s love and passion for chronicling her family. Wanting to have everything there for their memories turned out to allow the two of them to create something genuine and thoughtful. There is one key moment in the documentary in which Adam tells Amy that he wants to make a movie, and her response is simply “let’s do it”.

There is nothing hidden in the film, we as the viewer are experiencing the truth as Adam and Amy share it with us. The entirety of the film is the home video element combined with Adam adding voiceover later in life as he reflects on his past. Through his mother’s footage and the journals he kept, he reminisces upon what he went and still goes through. Adam’s Apple is a poetic and personal piece of filmmaking that showcases the strength behind the sorrow. In his path of discovering and becoming who he was truly meant to be, Adam has taken this chance to remind others that they are not alone.

When he makes it to where he is genuinely happy, we can feel it. He is “…finally being seen how I want to be” and it is touching and powerful. Adam’s life had been spent trying to prove to others who he is, but when he finally realized it need only be important to himself, he was able to become a different person. Though a personal experience for Adam himself, of course, this documentary is something else for the audience. It may be one individual’s life, but the way in which we watch him grow changes our perspective on the world and the transgender youth.

Rarely do we see anything such as what is seen in Adam’s Apple. A personal look into growing up while transitioning, Adam has shared his truth with the world. With its premiere at SXSW on March 13, 2026, Adam and Amy’s collaborative documentary has been revealed to be much more. Tender, honest, and compassionate. They documented one story that needs to be shared, and by doing so, hopefully allows others to begin to understand how much transgender youth bear. 

Adam's Apple2026