Claudia tocada por la luna

2018, Chile, Claudia Ancapan, Spanish,

Director: Francisco Aguilar
Release Year: 2018

Synopsis:

In the 2018 documentary "Claudia Tocada por la Luna" ("Claudia Touched by the Moon"), filmmaker Francisco Aguilar takes viewers on a deeply personal and poignant journey into the life of Claudia Ancapan, a trans-Chilean midwife of Mapuche descent. The documentary chronicles Claudia's painful and at times tragic struggle for self-acceptance, dignity, and recognition in a society that often marginalizes those who deviate from its rigid norms.

 

The film invites the audience to witness her lifelong battle with discrimination, her emotional and physical challenges, and her path toward finding her true identity amid social prejudice and institutional exclusion. This documentary, Aguilar's feature debut, is more than just a film about one woman’s personal transformation; it is a broader critique of the societal forces that continue to dehumanize and alienate transgender individuals. The documentary provides an immersive experience, lasting just over an hour, as it weaves Claudia’s life story through a combination of powerful personal testimony and evocative imagery. The documentary begins with a series of striking images of spaces and places that form an essential part of Claudia's memories. These are the spaces where Claudia grew up, where she struggled with her identity, and where she faced rejection. As the narrative unfolds, the audience is given an intimate portrait of Claudia's life, starting with her early childhood and adolescence in the small town of Los Muermos, a place where she experienced her first encounters with the harsh reality of societal norms and expectations.

 

Claudia’s life in Los Muermos was marked by the constant struggle of reconciling her sense of self with the overwhelming pressures of a conservative environment. Raised in an evangelical Christian household, she was confronted with a deeply entrenched sense of gender binary, religious intolerance, and societal rejection. From the very start, Claudia’s experiences in this small town reveal how deeply discriminatory attitudes were internalized within institutions like the family and church, both of which were places that should have offered her safety and acceptance. Instead, they became sources of trauma and alienation. As the narrative progresses, the film shifts to Claudia’s university years in Valdivia. Here, she navigates both her academic ambitions and the complexities of her emerging identity as a transgender woman. Although Valdivia represented an opportunity for personal growth, it was not free from its own set of challenges. Claudia recalls confronting ignorance and prejudice, even in spaces that were supposed to be more open-minded and inclusive. The documentary subtly critiques the state of higher education and the broader societal climate that rendered Claudia’s journey far more arduous than it should have been. Finally, the film brings us to Claudia’s adult life in Santiago, where she works as a midwife and is involved in activism for sexual and gender diversity. Her present life in the bustling capital city is marked by her ongoing fight for acceptance, equality, and the recognition of her rights as a transgender individual. Santiago offers more visibility, but also presents new challenges as Claudia continues to grapple with discrimination, both personal and institutional. 

 

At the heart of "Claudia Touched by the Moon" is a deep critique of the societal structures that perpetuate the marginalization of transgender individuals. Claudia’s activism is not just about personal liberation; it is a fight against the pervasive prejudices and systemic injustices that extend to the entire transgender community. The documentary paints a powerful portrait of Claudia not just as an individual but as a representative figure of those who have long been silenced, overlooked, or demonized by society. Through Claudia’s narrative, the documentary critiques the Chilean state and its failure to protect the human rights of transgender citizens. The film highlights the ways in which institutions such as the government, healthcare system, and employment sectors continue to trample on the basic human rights of transgender individuals. One of the most striking moments in the film is when Claudia speaks about her experience of being denied employment due to her transgender identity. This incident underscores how even in a supposedly modern society, transgender individuals often face systemic discrimination that prevents them from participating fully in public and professional life. The documentary also brings attention to the role of the Catholic and evangelical churches in perpetuating societal norms that stigmatize non-conforming gender identities. Claudia reflects on how these religious institutions, both historically and in her own life, used religion to justify their rejection of her identity. The fear of the "other," disguised as religious piety, is shown to be one of the most insidious ways that transgender individuals are kept marginalized and dehumanized. 

 

Another critical dimension of the documentary is the reflection on Claudia's Mapuche heritage. This cultural aspect provides Claudia with a sense of pride and grounding, allowing her to embrace her identity despite the overwhelming challenges she faced. The documentary delves into how Claudia’s indigenous roots have played an essential role in her resilience and in the process of accepting her identity as a transgender woman. Claudia’s Mapuche ancestry also highlights the intersectionality of her experience, as she must navigate the complexities of both gender and ethnic discrimination. Her indigenous background also sheds light on the ways in which her culture and sense of community have provided her with the strength to overcome some of the obstacles she faced in the predominantly white and urban spaces of Valdivia and Santiago. The film subtly suggests that her Mapuche heritage not only helped her in finding a place in the university but also played a role in her personal empowerment and activism. This interweaving of cultural identity with gender identity makes Claudia’s story even more poignant. It reflects the resilience of a woman who, despite facing discrimination on multiple fronts—whether because of her gender, her ethnicity, or her religious upbringing—has managed to carve out a space for herself in a society that has been slow to accept her. 

 

What sets "Claudia Touched by the Moon" apart from other documentaries is the way in which it focuses on Claudia’s voice. Throughout the film, Claudia speaks directly to the camera, creating a sense of intimacy and connection with the audience. Her narrative is not mediated by external commentary but is instead given the space to breathe and unfold in her own words. This direct address creates a powerful sense of agency for Claudia, allowing her to tell her story in her own terms, without the filter of societal expectations or editorializing. Claudia’s voice is not only a tool of storytelling but also an act of defiance. By speaking out, she challenges the silences and erasures that have characterized the lives of transgender people in Chile and beyond. Her words serve as a form of resistance, not just to her personal pain, but to the larger system of oppression that continues to marginalize people like her. 

 

"Claudia Touched by the Moon" is a haunting and powerful exploration of one woman’s journey toward self-discovery and social justice. Through the lens of Claudia Ancapan’s life, Francisco Aguilar’s documentary paints a broad portrait of the personal and institutional forces that shape the lives of transgender individuals in Chile. More than just a chronicle of hardship, the film is an act of resistance, a testament to Claudia’s resilience and the strength of the transgender community. It is also a call to action for viewers to confront the prejudices that still pervade our societies and to fight for a world where everyone, regardless of their gender identity, can live authentically and without fear of rejection. Ultimately, "Claudia Touched by the Moon" is not only a film about the hardships of one woman but also a collective story of struggle, identity, and the tireless pursuit of justice. It is a reminder of the ongoing fight for the recognition of transgender rights and the urgent need for societal transformation.

 

via: youtube

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Image credits: YouTube