2010,
Flemish,
Netherlands,
Director: Susan Koenen
Release Year: 2010
Original title: Ik ben een meisje!
Synopsis:
The 2011 Dutch documentary Ik ben een meisje! ("I am a Girl!") by director Susan Koenen offers a heartfelt and often humorous portrayal of a 13-year-old transgender girl named Joppe, who is navigating the complexities of adolescence, gender identity, and her first crush. In this intimate portrait, the documentary touches on universal themes of self-discovery and the social dynamics of youth while highlighting the specific challenges faced by transgender individuals. Through Joppe’s story, the film explores how gender identity can shape one's experiences during childhood and adolescence, particularly when that identity does not align with societal expectations.
The documentary follows Joppe, a young girl who, despite being born biologically male, knows that she is a girl. She has the same teenage anxieties and desires as any other girl her age—she dreams of a relationship with Brian, a cute boy from her neighborhood. But there’s a catch: Brian doesn’t know that Joppe was born male. The film follows Joppe and her close circle of friends as they discuss how she might tell Brian the truth and whether or not he will accept her for who she truly is.
Joppe’s journey is not one of self-doubt or confusion about her gender identity. She’s clear about who she is and feels strongly that she was simply "born in the wrong body." Instead, the documentary focuses on her more immediate concerns: how to navigate friendships, relationships, and the awkwardness of first crushes while also confronting the reality of a society that does not always understand or accept trans identities. The ultimate question for Joppe, however, is not about her gender but whether or not she will ever get that date with Brian.
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From the outset, Joppe presents herself as a typical 13-year-old girl. She talks about her crush with a mixture of excitement and nervousness, shares gossip with her friends, and worries about fitting in. But beneath the surface, there is a sense of urgency and a quiet tension about how her gender will be perceived by others. Joppe’s experience is not just about growing up, but about growing into the person she knows she has always been—a girl, in every sense of the word, even if her body does not match her identity.
What makes Joppe’s story so compelling is how she approaches the delicate issue of revealing her trans identity. The documentary never sensationalizes her journey but instead portrays it with tenderness and nuance. Joppe is not consumed by her gender identity crisis, as is often the case with transgender narratives in media. Instead, she seems to be at a point where she has already made peace with herself, but the world around her hasn’t caught up yet. She is confident in her femininity, and it is this self-assuredness that makes her journey relatable to any teenager trying to navigate the awkwardness of adolescence.
In one of the film's more poignant moments, Joppe openly discusses the disconnect between how she feels and how others perceive her. Her friends are fully supportive, and they agree that she is a girl, regardless of what her body might suggest. Yet, Joppe still faces the challenge of telling someone like Brian, a boy she likes, the truth. Will he understand? Will he still want to be friends—or even more? This central tension forms the emotional backbone of the documentary.
Though Ik ben een meisje! explores the specific experience of a transgender girl, its themes are universal. Joppe’s anxieties and dreams are those of any adolescent, regardless of gender. Her uncertainty about asking Brian out, her worries about rejection, and her moments of self-doubt are relatable to any teenager who has ever wondered if their feelings will be reciprocated. The documentary thus humanizes the experience of being transgender, showing that while Joppe’s journey is unique, the emotional highs and lows she faces are the same as those experienced by all teenagers.
In a sense, Ik ben een meisje! reminds us that adolescence is a time of self-discovery, filled with awkward encounters, misunderstandings, and the search for identity. For transgender teens like Joppe, however, the search for identity can be more complicated. They must reconcile not only their personal sense of who they are but also how the world perceives them and whether they will be accepted. Joppe's story emphasizes that gender identity is just one part of her narrative; her emotional development, friendships, and experiences of love are equally significant.
Ik ben een meisje! premiered on October 24, 2010, at the Cinekid Festival in Amsterdam and quickly garnered attention for its sensitive portrayal of transgender adolescence. The film was subsequently featured at over 85 international film festivals, where it won numerous awards, including jury and audience prizes. Its wide-reaching success helped raise awareness about transgender issues, especially within the context of youth and adolescence. The film was later broadcast on Dutch television on December 11, 2010, by the NCRV on Zapp, reaching a broader audience and sparking discussions about gender, identity, and acceptance in contemporary society.
In 2015, Ik ben een meisje! was included in special school screenings organized by the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) and Movies That Matter during the Kunstschooldagen, a series of educational programs for students. These screenings provided a platform for young people to engage with important issues around gender identity and self-awareness, facilitating conversations that would not otherwise take place in traditional educational settings.
The documentary also played a key role in breaking down the stigma surrounding transgender youth. By showing Joppe as an ordinary, relatable teenager rather than a tragic or exceptional figure, the film helped shift the narrative about transgender individuals from one of victimhood to one of resilience, agency, and self-empowerment. It portrayed transgender youth not as anomalies or outsiders but as fully realized individuals with the same hopes, dreams, and struggles as their cisgender peers.
In Ik ben een meisje!, Susan Koenen captures the complexity of being a transgender adolescent in a world that often prioritizes rigid gender norms. Through Joppe’s candid and open expression, the film highlights not only the challenges of growing up trans but also the beauty of self-acceptance. In the end, the documentary isn’t just about gender—it’s about love, friendship, and the universal desire to be seen for who we truly are.
Joppe’s journey of self-discovery, as well as her vulnerability and courage in facing the world, serves as a beacon for other young people who may feel alone or misunderstood. Her story reminds us that the struggles of adolescence are not confined to any one group; they are shared by all. And, just like any other girl her age, Joppe’s ultimate concern is not about her gender or her body but about whether she will ever find someone who loves her as she is. Through this simple, universal desire, Ik ben een meisje! provides a powerful message of hope, acceptance, and the importance of understanding in our interconnected world.
Image credits: YouTube
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