katrinaolson.ca - KO Review of In The Turn (FTFF 2016)

Posted on Sunday, May 22, 2016 at 04:00 PM

KO Review of In The Turn (Fairy Tales Film Festival 2016)

Review by Katrina Olson-Mottahed x CalgaryMovies.com

A KO Review by Emily Mody

In The Turn directed by Erica Tremblay, is a feature length documentary that follows a ten-year-old transgender girl named Crystal. She has struggled to find acceptance in her small town in rural Canada. When Crystal was seven and began her transition, she was banned from playing sports at school because the school did not know where to place her. Three years later, when her mother introduces Crystal to a queer roller derby collective called the Vagine Regime she finally finds the acceptances and empowerment that she has been longing for.

I thought that this film was a very powerful and sincere portrayal of an individual that is going through gender transition. This is, perhaps, a rather extreme example of this experience, particularly in light of the fact that there are very little resources available to Crystal but it is still a very important story that needs to be told. Especially viewing as a cis female, it is so important to see how heavily our society imposes restrictions on sexuality and gender. This is something that I normally do not think about in everyday life but In The Turn really opened my eyes to it. Why is it, that if someone is different they experience so much hate? Is it that our society is truly that afraid to face change? It scares me to think that a young girl like Crystal will be forever defined by something that has no merit in determining the quality of her character. I suppose that is why films such as In The Turn have so much value. The more we are exposed to differences in our society the more normalized they will become.

I would compare this film to Thank You For Playing directed by Malika Zouhali-Worrall and David Osit. These films are similar in style and tone. Both films display a sincerity of experience that makes the camera seem invisible. The directors did a very good job of connecting to their audience. I would say that although In The Turn is quite upsetting at times, it does not emphasize the same level of grief as Thank You For Playing. In The Turn maintains a somewhat more positive outlook by focusing on the joy that comes from empowerment and finding that you belong.

I would recommend In The Turn to anyone who has ever felt like they didn’t belong or if you are interested in films about social issues. If you are also interested in films about the LGBT community then you would really enjoy this one. I think that this film has a very important message and will be an excellent addition to the 2016 Fairy Tales Film Festival. I would not recommend this film to you if you are not open minded about contemporary queer and transgender issues. In The Turn will be screening as a part of the Fairy Tales Film Festival on Sunday, May 22, 2016 at the Plaza Theatre at 7:00pm. Crystal Labonte, the star of the documentary, will also be in attendance at the screening.

Calgary Showtimes: 18th Fairy Tales Film Festival 2016 >