Austin Unbound,
geregiseerd door Eliza Greenwood en Sel Staley, VS,2011, 45 min.
De
korte documentaire volgt de dove Austin en zijn beste vriend
op
een road trip om eindelijk een borstoperatie te ondergaan. Zijn reis is
een inspiratie voor zijn gemeenschap en daarbuiten. Hij deelt,
zelfbewust en met humor, intieme inzichten. Austin's beleving van doof
zijn ervaar je door het filmische beeldwerk. Horende kijkers staan
ineens aan de andere kant.
He
is a Deaf transman, Austin, is 31 years old. He has struggled with
feeling burdened by his female anatomy all his life. In middle school,
he changed his name and began to dress as a boy. Despite his
challenges, Austin is a regular guy with a comedic sense and flair for
romance and storytelling. Gathering varying intimate glimpses from his
mother, girlfriend, and best friend, Austin shamelessly counters with
his own perspective on his personal journey. The
film follows him and his best friend on the road trip to finally meet
his surgeon and undergo a double-mastectomy. Inviting viewers into the
operating theatre, they bear witness to the happiest day of Austin’s
life. His journey is an inspiration to many, his self awareness, humor,
and personality long recognized and honored in his community. The use
of specific cinematography, subtitles, and sound design reflect
Austin’s Deaf experience in cinematic effect.
Directors Commentary Many
people have asked what inspired me to create the film “Austin Unbound.”
Along with finding Austin wildly entertaining, I decided I wanted to
document the journey of this funny and fascinating character, because
of a change I noticed in myself. Prior to meeting him, transgender
issues were unfamiliar to me. My first instinct was to distrust the
transgender experience. As someone who is incredibly comfortable with
my own female body, I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to
‘disown their gender’. I was deeply immersed in the Deaf community,
where I met Austin, and something inside me changed upon our meeting.
Although my brain did not find logic in it, it wasn’t my place to
judge. I was gifted with this moment and I wanted other people to have
that chance, to meet him and accept him as a human being.
