A random collection of films authored by or about my transgender, intersex sisters, and gender-nonconforming persons all over the world. I watched some of them, and I was inspired by some of them. I met some of the authors and heroines, some of them are my best friends, and I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing some of them. If you know of any transgender documentary that I have not covered yet, please let me know.
Producer: Paperny Films
Release Year: 2001
Synopsis:
KinK, the Canadian television series that aired from 2001 to 2005 on the ShowCase network, remains a cult classic for its unflinching exploration of BDSM, power dynamics, and alternative sexualities. At a time when mainstream TV still shyed away from portraying non-heteronormative sexual practices, KinK carved out a space for kink communities to be represented in complex and humanizing ways. One of the most prominent figures associated with the show, and one whose own life and work mirrored its themes of transgression, transformation, and the body, was Nina
Arsenault.
Arsenault, born on January 20, 1974, in Beamsville, Ontario, is a Canadian performance artist, writer, and activist whose multi-disciplinary career spans theatre, dance, video, photography, and visual art. While she may be best known for her work in the world of performance art and activism, Arsenault's role on KinK cemented her status as a cultural icon, particularly within LGBTQ+ and kink communities. Her involvement with the series reflected not only her own personal experiences and identity but also her commitment to pushing boundaries and creating space for more complex narratives around gender, sexuality, and power.
2001,
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.
2012,
Canada,
English,
Nina Arsenault,
