''Intersexion'' (2012) is a documentary about

intersex Intersex people are those born with any of several sex characteristics, including chromosome patterns, gonads, or genitals that, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, "do not fit typical binar ...

people. The film was researched and presented by activist Mani Mitchell, New Zealand's first "out" intersex person.About Intersexion
Intersexion Film, 2012 It was written, directed and edited by Grant Lahood and produced by John Keir.

Synopsis

Mani Mitchell and Grant Lahood set out to "de-mystify" intersex, looking "beyond the shame and secrecy that defines many intersex births". Interviewing intersex people around the world, the film explores how they "navigate their way through childhood, adolescence, relationships and adulthood, when they don’t fit the binary model of a solely male and female world". The film follows Mitchell on a tour, visiting intersex people in America, Ireland, Germany, South Africa and Australia. Interviews with sex researchers are also included, as well as some history of the treatment of intersex conditions. Those who had early surgical interventions, per the theories of researchers such as

John Money John William Money (8 July 1921 – 7 July 2006) was a New Zealand American psychologist, sexologist and professor at Johns Hopkins University known for his research on human sexual behavior and gender. Money advanced the use of more accur ...

, contrast their experiences with those who grew up without these interventions.

Cast

The cast of Intersexion includes intersex activists from around the world, including Mani Mitchell, Bo Laurent, also known as Cheryl Chase, Caitlin Petrakis Childs, Gavan Coleman, Jim Costich, Tiger Devore, Sally Gross, Esther Morris Leidolf, Stephanie Long, Pidgeon Pagonis (then known as Jen), Michel Reiter, David Cameron Strachan,

Anne Tamar-Mattis Anne Tamar-Mattis is an American attorney, human rights advocate, and founder of interACT (formerly Advocates for Informed Choice). She currently serves as interACT's Legal Director. Career Tamar-Mattis spent six years as the Director of the N ...

, Suegee Tamar-Mattis, Peter Trinkl, Hida Viloria and Gina Wilson.

Reception

Graham Adams, writing for New Zealand magazine ''Metro'' describes how, "while the frankness of his subjects can be arresting, Lahood's interest in them is never prurient, or patronising. And the documentary fairly skips along." Jennie Kermode, writing for Eye For Film, writes, "''Intersexion'' is a vital film not only in bringing it to public view, but in doing so primarily through the stories of intersex people themselves". The movie has a 7.6 star rating at IMDb.

Awards

Intersexion won 'Best New Zealand Documentary' and 'Best Editing' at the Documentary Edge Festival in 2012. It was a runner up in the Derek Oyston Film Prize in the London BFI Lesbian and Gay Film Festival 2013, and recipient of the Audience Award for Best Documentary in the Hamburg International Queer Film Festival, 2012.Intersexion Festivals/Awards
Intersexion Film, 2012

References

External links