TransFatty lives is a brazen and illustrative account of what it is like to live when you find out you are going to die. Patrick O’Brien is TransFatty—the unabashed, and charismatic internet sensation with an itch for creating bizarre and mischievously comical films, like UFO Mofo and Born Again Porn Star. In 2005, Patrick’s world implodes when he is diagnosed with ALS and given only two to five years to live. A decade in the making, this unconventional documentary is Patrick’s personal reflection on the transformative effect of this disease, not only for himself but also for those around him.

As Patrick's physical abilities diminish, his wit, humor, and ability to engage with others remains dutifully intact. He falls in love and even fulfills his dream of having a son. This “art project of his existence” is stylishly woven together. In particular, the sequences mixing footage and sound are built in such a way, as if to portray a life flashing before your eyes. Truly, a revealing journey into the depths of a cruel illness, and a stirring observation on the decision to remain alive.

—Marina Hanna

Patrick O'Brien