AUTOSTRADDLE

She's A Boy I Knew: Transgressing Gender, Transforming Film

October 10, 2011

posted by
Lindsay


http://www.autostraddle.com/shes-a-boy-i-knew-transgressing-gender-transforming-film-113682/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Autostraddle+%28Autostraddle%29




Despite the barrage of media in our daily lives, when it comes to trans stories we haven't been given much that reflects the lives of actual transpeople. Ignorance is still so widespread that if you've ever taken a queer theory class you're now an instant expert (even though, like most people, you probably still have no idea what the hell Judith Butler is talking about).

Thankfully, there's a film out there that changes everything — from what you thought you knew to what you really need to know. Unabashedly personal and politically articulate, She's A Boy I Knew is a "highly subjective documentary" about Vancouver filmmaker Gwen Haworth's transition from male to female. In 2000, Haworth came out about her female gender identity and decided to document her transition. Foregoing state-of-the-art equipment in favour of a hand-held HD camera, She's A Boy I Knew began as the final project for Haworth's graduate film degree, and ended up an award-winning documentary.

My favourite trans film by far. The best possible thing to show family members, since a lot of the film is about how her parents, sisters, wife and best friend coped with her coming out.

Definitely a great movie!

Made me the woman I (almost) am today - a huge relief to see that femme is not the only option.