Release Year: 2008
Synopsis:
"Appelez-moi Madame" (Call Me Madame) is a rare and poignant documentary by Françoise Romand that explores the life of Ovida Delect, a French trans woman whose journey from Jean-Pierre Voidies to Ovida Delect embodies a complex intersection of gender, history, and identity. Released in 1986, the film presents a personal and intimate look at Delect's transition, alongside the effect it had on her family, particularly her wife and teenage son. Through the lens of this documentary, Romand provides an invaluable portrayal of Delect, a French poet, politician, and former member of the French Resistance, whose life story resonates with the broader struggles of gender identity and acceptance, especially in post-war France.
Ovida Delect's life, as depicted in the documentary, is marked by profound transformation and resilience. Born Jean-Pierre Voidies on April 24, 1926, in Caen, Delect grew up during a time of intense political and social upheaval. As a young student, she was drawn into the French Resistance against Nazi occupation during World War II, a decision that would shape her life in profound ways. Along with several comrades, Delect joined a small resistance group that was linked to the French Communist Party, posing as a member of the National Popular Youth to infiltrate Nazi lines. She was arrested by the Gestapo in 1944, subjected to brutal torture, and ultimately deported to the Neuengamme concentration camp in Germany. Despite the inhumane conditions, Delect refused to betray her comrades, and her survival is, in many ways, a testament to her inner strength.
