º»¹® ¹Ù·Î°¡±â ¸Þ´º ¹Ù·Î°¡±â

ARCHIVE

10th(2008)



She\'s a Boy I Knew

Gwen HAWORTH

  • Canada
  • 2007
  • 70min
  • Beta
  • color
  • Documentary

SYNOPSIS


Feeling the need for self-representation, Gwen Haworth, film director and transgender lesbian, made an autobiographical documentary. She¡¯s a Boy I Knew is different from existing transgender films in that it focuses on psychological and social, relationship-based transitions rather than medical procedures, such as surgery or hormone treatment. Male-to-female transition (from Steve to Gwen) involve processes of change that are not limited to the individual in question. Her family members and friends also need time to go through the process of transition. Therefore, the director takes a look at the confusion and conflict, love and support, and the transformation experienced by her family, brought on by her coming out and her gender transition. The film uses various means to explore this journey, such as archival family footage, photographs, text messages, animation, and interviews. Throughout this process, we see how Gwen and those around her work through the loss and mourning of Steve and build new relationships, while also acting to break the prejudices we hold about gender and sexuality. Gwen¡¯s mother wants her to be more feminine, while her brusque father, who is disappointed at the loss of his son, gradually opens his heart, and her younger sister Kim worries about Gwen¡¯s surgery and feels even closer to her than before. Her wife Malgosia, who is confused as to whether her husband wants to be with her or be her, continues to provide love and support, eventually realizing that she had been in love with Steve and not Gwen. (CHO Hye-young)
 

PROGRAM NOTE


Feeling the need for self-representation, Gwen Haworth, film director and transgender lesbian, made an autobiographical documentary. She¡¯s a Boy I Knew is different from existing transgender films in that it focuses on psychological and social, relationship-based transitions rather than medical procedures, such as surgery or hormone treatment. Male-to-female transition (from Steve to Gwen) involve processes of change that are not limited to the individual in question. Her family members and friends also need time to go through the process of transition. Therefore, the director takes a look at the confusion and conflict, love and support, and the transformation experienced by her family, brought on by her coming out and her gender transition. The film uses various means to explore this journey, such as archival family footage, photographs, text messages, animation, and interviews. Throughout this process, we see how Gwen and those around her work through the loss and mourning of Steve and build new relationships, while also acting to break the prejudices we hold about gender and sexuality. Gwen¡¯s mother wants her to be more feminine, while her brusque father, who is disappointed at the loss of his son, gradually opens his heart, and her younger sister Kim worries about Gwen¡¯s surgery and feels even closer to her than before. Her wife Malgosia, who is confused as to whether her husband wants to be with her or be her, continues to provide love and support, eventually realizing that she had been in love with Steve and not Gwen. (CHO Hye-young)
 

Director

  • Gwen HAWORTHGwen HAWORTH

    "

    Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Gwen Haworth is a transgender filmmaker, editor, and instructor. After graduating with a degree in psychology in 1995, Gwen went on to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees in Film Production at the University of British Columbia. She served as a programmer and board member for ¡®Out On Screen¡¯, which holds Vancouver¡¯s Queer Film & Video Festival. Her first short film Not Kokura (1996) re-examined the WWII bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, questioning the use of weapons of mass destruction on primarily civilian targets. She has continued to play a creative role in a number of documentaries and shorts including directing her mockumentary Road Movie (1997).

Credit

  • ProducerGwen HAWORTH
  • Screenwriter Gwen HAWORTH
  • Cinematography Gwen HAWORTH
  • Editor Gwen HAWORTH
  • Music Daniel E. MOXON
  • Sound Gwen HAWORTH