Extrait du catalogue du festival Pink Screen
Does the word ’gender’ leave you cold? Does Judith Butler have the same effect on you as a Valium? Well don’t panic, here is an update. At the forefront of the debate and live from France, six portraits of fascinating trans / inter-sex / gender people illustrate in the flesh the ridiculously narrow limits of our culture’s views on these issues – right up to the example of one trans ’Female to Unknown’. Fascinating, as well as educational, this documentary is totally emblematic of the spirit of the Pink Screens Festival; a vital documentary to (re) consider our selves, our body, our sex, desire and gender… and those of others.
About Binding Words
Directed by Cynthia Arra & Mélissa Arra
Documentary / 2007 / France / 75’ / 4:3
The film aims to give Trans’ people whose quest for gender identity is fettered by established norms a chance to voice their tribulation. Their means of resistance consist of searching for tools of knowledge, for corporealities, sexualities and alternative identities to those of the conventional schemas. Far from the usual treatment of Trans issues, this film, through the choice of its portrait subjects – all contemporary actors and precursors of the Trans’and Intersex movement in France – addresses the gender identity issues head-on by questioning our often unchallenged societal norms and analyzing the nature of the oppression and repression faced by the Trans’ and Intersex community.
With Maud-Yeuse Thomas, Tom Reucher, Vincent Avrons, Vincent He-Say, Carine Boeuf and Vincent Guillot.
directors Cynthia Arra & Mélissa Arra
self-produced Cynthia Arra & Mélissa Arra
camera operators Cynthia Arra & Mélissa Arra
editing Cynthia Arra, Mélissa Arra & Justine Triet
music during crédits “Manifeste”, original soundtrack of the film “Exils” (Exiles) by Tony Gatlif
mix Christophe Doucet-Mimoun
color grading Sydney Teggbo & Sandra Sauron – toggle productions
english subtitles Paul Belle, Steve Arra & Marie-Hélène Bourcier
trailer Clémentine March
website Vincent He-Say
support for festival screening Digital Beta or DVD in French or in French with English subtitles