Films about intersex

Intersex, in humans and other animals, is a variation in sex characteristics including chromosomes, gonads, or genitals that do not allow an individual to be distinctly identified as male or female. Such variation may involve genital ambiguity, and combinations of chromosomal genotype and sexual phenotype other than XY-male and XX-female.[1][2] Intersex is a part of nature and that is reflected in some representations of intersex in film and other media.

Documentary films about intersex

Hermaphrodites Speak!

The 1995 film Hermaphrodites Speak! is a 30 minute documentary film from the United States in which several intersex people at the first retreat of the Intersex Society of North America discuss their lives and the medical treatment and parenting they received.

Intersexion

In 2012, the film Intersexion was awarded the Best Feature Documentary award at the Documentary Edge Festival, presented by Mani Bruce Mitchell of Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand (ITANZ). The film was directed by Grant Lahood. The film follows Mani as s/he visits intersex people in America, Ireland, Germany, South Africa and Australia.

One in Two Thousand

In 2006, Ajae Clearway produced an award winning documentary giving voice to various intersex individuals and their experiences with surgeries, and advocates for informed consent. The film One in Two Thousand educates the viewer on notions of sexuality, and the opposition on unnecessary surgeries.[3]

Orchids, My Intersex Adventure

In 2010, Australian documentary-maker Phoebe Hart directed an autobiographical documentary of her personal experience as an intersex person. The film, Orchids, My Intersex Adventure, explores the various social scenarios faced by many intersex individuals.

XXXY

In 2000, Porter Gale, Masters in Documentary Film and Video from Stanford University,and Laleh Soomekh, produced XXXY, a documentary revealing intersex individuals' opinions on the surgical procedures done on them, while providing a medical professional's opinion as well. The film clearly shows the dissatisfaction and the painful repercussions for the children who went through sex reassignment surgeries.[4]

Drama films about intersex

Both

A US/Peruvian fictional account, in English, Both by filmmaker Lisset Barcellos, won an audience award at the 28th Créteil International Women's Film Festival.[5][6] The movie is unusual for being a film about an intersex issue directed by an intersex person.[7]

Predestination

A 2014 Australian science fiction thriller film, directed and written by Michael and Peter Spierig. The film is based on the Robert A. Heinlein short story All You Zombies.

Tintomara

A 1970 Swedish-Danish drama film.[8] It is based on the novel Drottningens juvelsmycke by Jonas Love Almqvist and features one of Swedish literature's most enduringly popular characters, the eponymous androgyne Tintomara.

XXY

The 2007 Argentine film XXY centres around a young intersex person who is assisted in presenting as a girl with medication. The film deals with discrimination, sexuality and gender identity.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Money, John; Ehrhardt, Anke A. (1972). Man & Woman Boy & Girl. Differentiation and dimorphism of gender identity from conception to maturity. USA: The Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-1405-7.
  2. ↑ Domurat Dreger, Alice (2001). Hermaphrodites and the Medical Invention of Sex. USA: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-00189-3.
  3. ↑ "One in 2000". Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  4. ↑ "XXXY".
  5. ↑ Both (2005), Internet Movie Database.
  6. ↑ Palmarès, Créteil International Women's Film Festival.
  7. ↑ The Taboo Of Intersexuality, Hartford Courant, November 3, 2005.
  8. ↑ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/370621