Release Year: 1996
Synopsis:
"Sukupuoli X" (Gender X), a 1996 Finnish documentary directed by Silja Lanas Cavada and Hannamari Purhonen, holds a unique and significant place in the history of transgender representation in film. The documentary follows the journey of Tiina Miettinen, a Finnish transgender woman, as she prepares for gender reassignment surgery.
The film captures the emotional and physical transformations that Tiina undergoes, and it also provides a rare glimpse into the complexities of identity, societal expectations, and personal perseverance within the context of a deeply conservative Finnish society at the time.
The documentary is an intimate and raw portrayal of Tiina's life, chronicling her challenges, triumphs, and struggles with gender dysphoria. However, it is also much more than the story of one individual's transition; it serves as a poignant commentary on the larger social, psychological, and medical hurdles faced by transgender individuals in Finland and beyond.