We Are Pat(2025)
About We Are Pat
Pat, the evasive, androgynous character made famous on Saturday Night Live by Julia Sweeney, was an inescapable figure in 1990s pop culture. As a child, filmmaker Ro Haber became obsessed with Pat—a character whose popularity stemmed from making others uncomfortable by defying gender norms. Decades later, and now an out trans filmmaker, Haber still grapples with Pat’s legacy. Thirty-five years after It’s Pat first aired, Haber assembles a group of queer and trans comedians, writers, and even Sweeney herself to revisit the character. Through conversation and critique, they aim not to erase Pat but to reframe them, transforming a symbol of ridicule into one of reflection and empowerment.
Few pop culture artifacts from the nineties have aged as perplexingly as the gender-fluid enigma that once dominated prime time television. We Are Pat serves as a fascinating retrospective, directed by Ro Haber, which navigates the complex intersection of nostalgia and identity politics. While the character was originally conceived as a vehicle for comedic discomfort, this documentary reclaims that space by inviting a diverse ensemble of queer voices to dissect the cultural impact of such a polarizing figure. By gathering comedians like Abby McEnany and Murray Hill alongside Julia Sweeney, the film manages to bridge the gap between the dated sensibilities of the past and the evolving awareness of the present. It functions less as a takedown and more as an intellectual excavation, asking how a caricature designed to baffle mainstream audiences can be recontextualized as a catalyst for genuine queer discourse.
The documentary arrives at a moment when global cinema, including the burgeoning documentary movements within Indian regional industries, is increasingly prioritizing stories of self-definition and the deconstruction of traditional archetypes. Haber brings a deeply personal lens to the project, positioning the film as a bridge between the confusion of their own childhood and the clarity of their current identity as a trans filmmaker. Viewers who appreciate sociological deep dives or those interested in the evolution of television comedy will find this a compelling watch. It is particularly resonant for audiences who enjoy films that challenge established cultural narratives, offering a nuanced look at how we process the media that shaped our formative years.
What makes We Are Pat stand out is its commitment to nuance rather than simple condemnation. Instead of merely dismissing the character as a relic of an insensitive era, the film interrogates the laughter that once surrounded them. It positions the act of watching and critiquing as a form of empowerment, ensuring that the legacy of the character is not ignored, but rather transformed into something meaningful. For cinephiles and fans of queer history, this project acts as a vital bridge, connecting the rigid, binary-obsessed landscape of the nineties to the expansive, inclusive conversations of contemporary film culture. By centering the perspectives of those who were most affected by these portrayals, the documentary succeeds in turning a punchline into a profound site of reflection.
Cast(28)
