I’m Yours

2012, Canada, English, Nina Arsenault,

Director: Chase Joynt
Release Year: 2012

Synopsis:

In 2012, filmmaker Chase Joynt released I'm Yours, a short documentary that provides a raw, sardonic, and poetic exploration of the transgender experience through the eyes of two artists: Joynt himself and Nina Arsenault. Using an innovative narrative style and inspired by the work of Canadian video artist Colin Campbell, I'm Yours offers a fresh perspective on a topic that has often been reduced to sensationalism or voyeurism in mainstream media. Rather than presenting the typical story of struggle or transformation, Joynt’s film turns the lens on the invasive, repetitive questions that transgender people are so often subjected to, questions that, as the film shows, only reinforce ignorance and dehumanize those who are asked.

 

One of the most striking features of I'm Yours is its use of clever editing and visual contrasts. The film is a collage of black-and-white shots alternating between the two protagonists, Chase Joynt and Nina Arsenault, as they respond to a series of questions. These questions, while never heard, are inferred through the answers given by Joynt and Arsenault, making the documentary a subtle critique of the ways in which cisgender society interrogates transgender people. Through rhythmic montages, Joynt cuts between the two artists as they respond with wit, deflection, and sardonic humor to questions that have become all too familiar.

 

At times, the film veers into the absurd, with both artists answering that they once identified as fantastical beings, such as "a witch," "a fairy," or "a cyborg." These responses are meant to highlight the absurdity of the questions themselves and to demonstrate how the complex, nuanced identities of transgender people are often reduced to simplistic and invasive curiosities. The rhythmic editing, juxtaposed with the contrast of black-and-white visuals, creates a sense of detachment and otherness. By keeping the questions themselves off-screen, Joynt challenges the viewer to question their own assumptions, creating a space where the focus is entirely on the responses—responses that are both humorous and exasperated, revealing the toll of constant scrutiny.

 

At its core, I'm Yours is a direct confrontation with cisnormativity—the assumption that everyone is cisgender unless stated otherwise—and the invasive curiosity that often accompanies it. The repetitive nature of the questions presented in the film reflects a wider societal issue: the objectification of transgender people and the constant scrutiny of their bodies, identities, and choices. By omitting the questions, Joynt effectively places the focus on the responses and, in doing so, emphasizes the performative nature of these interactions. Each answer is delivered with a sense of weariness and sharp wit, underscoring the frustration that arises when trans people are continually reduced to the sum of their physical transitions or forced to answer for their identities in ways that cisgender people never have to. The very nature of the documentary—its unspoken questions—forces the viewer to confront their own assumptions about what it means to be transgender, to be different, and to live outside the normative boundaries of gender. The sardonic responses from Joynt and Arsenault provide a layer of catharsis for both the filmmakers and the audience. Their answers suggest that they have learned to cope with, if not fully accept, the relentless probing and the cultural fascination with their bodies. However, there is also an underlying critique of the culture of transphobia that seeks to categorize and label them, forcing them into a space where they are constantly "othered."

 

Nina Arsenault, one of the central figures in I'm Yours, is a complex and fascinating subject of both the film and the larger conversation about transgender identity. Born in 1974 in Beamsville, Ontario, Arsenault is a Canadian performance artist, writer, and former sex worker who has spent much of her life at the intersection of art, gender, and sexuality. Arsenault is known for her unapologetic approach to her own body and identity, and her work spans multiple media, including theatre, dance, photography, and video art. Before transitioning, Arsenault was an instructor at York University, teaching acting, and she has spoken publicly about her realization of being a woman in 1996. She underwent significant surgeries during her transition, including over $150,000 worth of procedures that she financed through sex work. This financial reality is significant because it complicates the narrative often surrounding transgender people—particularly the notion that transitioning is a privilege only available to those with substantial resources.

 

Arsenault’s work, particularly her autobiographical plays and performance art pieces, is centered on her experiences as a transgender woman. Her 2007 one-woman show The Silicone Diaries received critical acclaim and toured across Canada, with Arsenault gaining recognition for her fearless exploration of her own body and sexuality. Arsenault has also been outspoken about her reasons for not pursuing bottom surgery, stating that her work as a dancer in a club catering to men who are attracted to trans women has influenced her decision to maintain the physical characteristics that make her marketable within that specific context. Her relationship with her body and her choices within the sex industry complicate any singular narrative about transgender experiences. Arsenault’s willingness to embrace and discuss the complexities of her identity—including the difficult realities of working in the sex trade—adds depth to the documentary, which becomes not just a critique of the questions asked of trans people, but also an exploration of the multifaceted lives they lead.

 

Chase Joynt, the director and co-star of I'm Yours, is an artist whose work frequently engages with issues of gender, sexuality, and the body. Joynt’s background as a transgender filmmaker gives him a unique perspective in his work, and in I'm Yours, he uses his position to critique the cultural fascination with transgender identities and the way they are often reduced to a series of questions about transition. Joynt's decision to remain somewhat behind the scenes in I'm Yours—allowing Arsenault's responses to take center stage—further underscores his commitment to highlighting the lived experiences of trans people, rather than focusing on a singular narrative. As a director, Joynt is known for his innovative approach to documentary filmmaking. He utilizes editing as a tool to manipulate time, space, and meaning, creating a work that is both visually compelling and conceptually rich. I'm Yours is emblematic of this style, using montage and rhythmic cuts to craft a narrative that is not just about transgender identity but also about the politics of representation itself. Through his work, Joynt invites viewers to question the assumptions they hold about gender, identity, and the boundaries of the body.

 

In many ways, I'm Yours is a response to the pervasive and often dehumanizing questions that transgender people face every day. But more than that, it’s an invitation to rethink how we, as a society, engage with gender identity. By turning the focus onto the frustrations and sardonic responses of two transgender artists, Joynt and Arsenault encourage us to question not only the questions themselves but the very system that makes those questions acceptable. Through humor, clever editing, and stark imagery, I'm Yours disrupts traditional narratives about transgender people, offering instead a critique of the culture of curiosity and objectification that surrounds them. In doing so, it opens up space for greater empathy and understanding—an invitation to view transgender experiences as multifaceted and deeply human, rather than as something to be interrogated or explained. For anyone interested in understanding the complexities of transgender identity beyond the binary of male and female, I'm Yours is a must-watch—an essential piece of filmmaking that challenges, informs, and inspires.

via: chicagomaroon.com

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Image credits: YouTube